Communication device, communication control method, and program

Abstract

In a communication device (10), a replica signal formation unit (13) encodes a PUCCH data sequence for each PUCCH resource obtained by a decoding unit (12) to form a replica signal of a PUCCH signal for each PUCCH resource. A likelihood calculation unit (14) calculates a correlation value between the PUCCH signal for the PUCCH resource obtained in a demodulation unit (11A) and the replica signal for the same PUCCH resource obtained in the replica signal formation unit (13). The likelihood calculation unit (14) calculates a likelihood for the PUCCH resource on the basis of the correlation value calculated for the PUCCH resource. A control unit (15) selects, on the basis of the likelihood calculated for each of a plurality of PUCCH resources of a PUCCH resource set, from the plurality of PUCCH resources, a PUCCH resource to be used by a UE for UCI transmission.

Description

COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device, a communication control method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) (registered trademark) has specified a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G, New Radio (NR)) (for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] Non-Patent Document 1 defines a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel)) resource set. A maximum of eight PUCCH resources are configured in a PUCCH resource set. A maximum of four PUCCH resource sets are configured for one UE (User Equipment). Furthermore, each PUCCH resource set is configured with the maximum number of bits of uplink control information (UCI (Uplink Control Information)) that can be transmitted in the PUCCH resource set. Furthermore, each PUCCH resource is configured with a mapping position of a physical resource block (PRB (Physical Resource Block)) of the PUCCH resource.

[0004] Here, a PUCCH resource for a UE is selected as follows: First, among multiple PUCCH resource sets configured for the UE, a PUCCH resource set is selected in which the maximum number of transmittable UCI bits configured is equal to or greater than the number of UCI bits requested to be transmitted by the UE and which has the smallest assigned number. Then, one of the multiple PUCCH resources included in the selected PUCCH resource set is selected. This selected one PUCCH resource is notified to the UE by a PUCCH resource indicator in format 1_0 / 1_1 of downlink control information (DCI) of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). Having been notified of the PUCCH resource, the UE transmits the UCI using a physical resource block corresponding to the PUCCH resource. The UCI includes, for example, a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-acknowledgement (ACK) result for the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0005] 3GPP TS 38.213 V17.4.0 (2022-12)

[0006] The inventors have found that the technology defined in Non-Patent Document 1 may result in the selection of PUCCH resources with poor communication quality, which may result in an increased likelihood of PDSCH retransmissions and reduced transmission efficiency.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a communication device, a communication control method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium that are capable of selecting a more suitable PUCCH resource.

[0008] In one aspect, a communication device comprises: demodulation means for demodulating a physical uplink control channel received signal to obtain a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of the physical uplink control channel; decoding means for decoding the physical uplink control channel signal to obtain physical uplink control channel data; replica signal forming means for forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data; likelihood calculation means for calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; and control means for selecting a resource from the plurality of resources to be used by a terminal for transmitting uplink control information based on the likelihood calculated for each resource.

[0009] In another aspect, a communications device comprises: means for acquiring a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel; means for encoding physical uplink control channel data decoded from the physical uplink control channel signal to form a replica signal; and means for selecting a resource from the plurality of resources to be used by a terminal for transmitting uplink control information based on a likelihood of correlation between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal.

[0010] In another aspect, a communication control method includes: obtaining a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel by demodulating a physical uplink control channel received signal; obtaining physical uplink control channel data by decoding the physical uplink control channel signal; forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data; calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal, and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; and selecting a resource from the plurality of resources to be used by a terminal for transmitting the physical uplink control channel based on the likelihood calculated for each resource.

[0011] In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon a program that causes a communication device to perform processes including: obtaining a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel by demodulating a physical uplink control channel received signal; obtaining physical uplink control channel data by decoding the physical uplink control channel signal; forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data; calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; and selecting a resource from the plurality of resources to be used by a terminal for transmitting the physical uplink control channel based on the likelihood calculated for each resource.

[0012] The present disclosure can provide a communication device, a communication control method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium that can select a more suitable PUCCH resource.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device in a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation of the communication device in the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device in a second embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation of the communication device in the second embodiment; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device in a third embodiment; FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device in a fourth embodiment; FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device in a fifth embodiment; and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a communication device.

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0015] <First Embodiment> <Configuration Example of Communication Device> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the communication device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a decoding unit 12, a replica signal formation unit 13, a likelihood calculation unit 14, and a control unit 15. The communication device 10 is a base station, and may be, for example, a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) node or a Distributed Unit (DU) of a 5G base station (gNB). In this case, the communication device 10 communicates with a UE via a Radio Unit (RU). The following description is based on the assumption that the communication device 10 is a DU of a gNB. Note that the acquisition unit 11 and the decoding unit 12 may correspond to a physical layer, and the replica signal formation unit 13, the likelihood calculation unit 14, and the control unit 15 may correspond to a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The UE may also be referred to as a mobile terminal or a communication terminal.

[0016] The acquisition unit 11 includes a demodulation unit 11A. The demodulation unit 11A demodulates a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) received signal to acquire a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal transmitted on each of a plurality of PUCCH resources included in a "PUCCH resource set." Here, the acquisition unit 11 acquires an uplink received signal, for example, from an RU. The PUCCH received signal is, for example, a signal component corresponding to the PUCCH resource of this uplink received signal. That is, for example, an extraction unit (demapping unit) (not shown) of the acquisition unit 11 may extract a signal component corresponding to the PUCCH resource of the uplink received signal to obtain the PUCCH received signal. As described above, a maximum of four PUCCH resource sets are configured for one UE. Furthermore, a maximum of eight PUCCH resources are configured in one PUCCH resource set. Therefore, the processing operations of the acquisition unit 11, the decoding unit 12, the replica signal formation unit 13, the likelihood calculation unit 14, and the control unit 15 are performed for each PUCCH resource set.

[0017] The decoder 12 obtains PUCCH data (PUCCH data sequence) by decoding each PUCCH signal, that is, PUCCH data (PUCCH data sequence) is obtained for each PUCCH resource.

[0018] The replica signal forming unit 13 encodes the PUCCH data sequence for each PUCCH resource obtained by the decoding unit 12, thereby forming a replica signal of the PUCCH signal for each PUCCH resource.

[0019] The likelihood calculation unit 14 calculates a "correlation value" between the PUCCH signal for one PUCCH resource obtained by the demodulation unit 11A and the replica signal for the same one PUCCH resource obtained by the replica signal formation unit 13. Then, the likelihood calculation unit 14 calculates a "likelihood" for one PUCCH resource based on the correlation value calculated for that one PUCCH resource. This calculation of the correlation value and likelihood is performed for each PUCCH resource included in up to four PUCCH resource sets. Note that specific examples of methods for calculating the correlation value and likelihood will be described in the second embodiment.

[0020] The control unit 15 may select a PUCCH resource set to be used for communication by the UE, as in Non-Patent Document 1, for example. Then, based on the likelihood calculated for each of the multiple PUCCH resources in the selected PUCCH resource set, the control unit 15 may select a PUCCH resource to be used by the UE for transmitting uplink control information (UCI) from the multiple PUCCH resources. For example, the control unit 15 may select a PUCCH resource corresponding to the largest likelihood as the PUCCH resource to be used by the UE. That is, the likelihood for the PUCCH resource can be used as the priority of the PUCCH resource. Furthermore, the control unit 15 may select a resource to be used by the terminal for transmitting uplink control information from the multiple PUCCH resources based on the likelihood related to the correlation between the PUCCH signal and the replica signal.

[0021] <Example of Operation of Communication Apparatus> An example of processing operations of the communication apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described below. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operations of the communication apparatus in the first embodiment.

[0022] The acquisition unit 11 acquires the PUCCH signals transmitted in each PUCCH resource included in the "PUCCH resource set" (step S11).

[0023] The decoder 12 obtains a PUCCH data sequence by decoding each PUCCH signal (step S12).

[0024] The replica signal forming unit 13 forms a replica signal of the PUCCH signal for each PUCCH resource by encoding the PUCCH data sequence for each PUCCH resource obtained by the decoding unit 12 (step S13).

[0025] The likelihood calculation unit 14 calculates a "correlation value" between the PUCCH signal for the PUCCH resource obtained by the demodulation unit 11A and the replica signal for the same PUCCH resource obtained by the replica signal formation unit 13 (step S14).

[0026] The likelihood calculation unit 14 calculates the "likelihood" for the PUCCH resource based on the correlation value calculated for the PUCCH resource (step S15).

[0027] The control unit 15 selects a PUCCH resource to be used by the UE for transmitting UCI from among the multiple PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set based on the likelihood calculated for each of the multiple PUCCH resources (step S16).

[0028] As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the communication device 10, the replica signal forming unit 13 forms a replica signal of the PUCCH signal for each PUCCH resource by encoding the PUCCH data sequence for each PUCCH resource obtained by the decoding unit 12. The likelihood calculation unit 14 calculates a correlation value between the PUCCH signal for a PUCCH resource obtained by the demodulation unit 11A and the replica signal for the same PUCCH resource obtained by the replica signal forming unit 13. The likelihood calculation unit 14 calculates a likelihood for the PUCCH resource based on the correlation value calculated for the PUCCH resource. The control unit 15 selects a PUCCH resource to be used by the UE to transmit UCI from among the multiple PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set based on the likelihood calculated for each of the multiple PUCCH resources.

[0029] This configuration of communication device 10 allows a PUCCH resource to be used by a UE for transmitting UCI to be selected based on the likelihood calculated for each of the multiple PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set, thereby enabling selection of a more suitable PUCCH resource, which reduces PDSCH retransmissions and improves downlink transmission efficiency.

[0030] Second Embodiment The second embodiment relates to changing the PUCCH resources in a PUCCH resource set.

[0031] <Configuration Example of Communication Device> Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 3, a communication device 20 includes an acquisition unit 11, a decoding unit 12, a replica signal formation unit 13, a likelihood calculation unit 21, and a control unit 22. Note that the acquisition unit 11 and the decoding unit 12 may correspond to the physical layer, and the replica signal formation unit 13, the likelihood calculation unit 21, and the control unit 22 may correspond to a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer.

[0032] The likelihood calculation unit 21 calculates a correlation value and a likelihood for each PUCCH resource in each PUCCH resource set configured for the UE, similar to the likelihood calculation unit 14 of the first embodiment.

[0033] Furthermore, the likelihood calculation unit 21 further calculates the likelihood for all of the PUCCH resource sets configured for the UE.

[0034] Here, an example of a method for calculating the correlation value and likelihood by the likelihood calculation unit 21 will be described.

[0035] The likelihood calculation unit 21 calculates the correlation value for each PUCCH resource using the following equation (1). Here, in equation (1), N bits is the number of bits of the replica signal obtained by the replica signal forming unit 13 . is the PUCCH signal before decoding by the decoder 12. is the average of the PUCCH signal before decoding by the decoder 12. is the replica signal obtained by the replica signal forming unit 13. is the average of the replica signals obtained by the replica signal forming unit 13.

[0036] Then, the likelihood calculation unit 21 calculates a likelihood Pn for each PUCCH resource in each PUCCH resource set configured for the UE by the following equation (2). The likelihood Pn is the likelihood of a certain PUCCH resource after the nth PUCCH reception for that PUCCH resource. That is, the likelihood Pn can be calculated using a forgetting average. In equation (2), α is a forgetting factor, and 0≦α≦1. ０ = 1. The forgetting factor α is set for each base station (that is, for each DU), for example.

[0037] Then, the likelihood calculation unit 21 can calculate the likelihood for each PUCCH resource set configured for the UE as a whole by the following equation (3): The average (for example, weighted average) of the likelihoods Pn of all the PUCCH resources included in a PUCCH resource set may be used as the likelihood for the PUCCH resource set as a whole. In formula (3), is the number of PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set. is the weighting factor for each PUCCH resource.

[0038] The control unit 22 executes the same processing as the control unit 15 of the first embodiment.

[0039] Furthermore, for each PUCCH resource set configured for the UE, the control unit 22 determines whether the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set is equal to or less than a threshold (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "first threshold"). This determination may be performed repeatedly at a predetermined interval, for example.

[0040] Then, when the control unit 22 determines that the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set is equal to or less than the first threshold, it changes the multiple PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set to multiple other PUCCH resources. That is, as a result of this change, the changed PUCCH resource set includes PUCCH resources that were not included in the PUCCH resource set before the change. Here, the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set to be equal to or less than the first threshold means that the communication quality of the PUCCH resource set has deteriorated. Therefore, by changing the multiple PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set to multiple other PUCCH resources, it is possible to increase the possibility that the communication quality of the PUCCH resource set will improve. Note that the value of the first threshold is set, for example, for each base station (i.e., for each DU).

[0041] <Example of Operation of Communication Device> An example of processing operations of the communication device 20 having the above configuration will be described. Here, particularly, changing the PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operations of the communication device in the second embodiment. Note that this flowchart is executed for each of a plurality of PUCCH resource sets configured in the UE.

[0042] The control unit 22 determines whether the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set is equal to or less than a first threshold (step S21). This determination is repeated until it is determined that the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set is equal to or less than the first threshold (step S21 NO).

[0043] If the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set is equal to or less than the first threshold (YES in step S21), the control unit 22 changes the PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set to other PUCCH resources (step S22). Then, the processing returns to step S21.

[0044] As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set becomes equal to or less than the first threshold, the control unit 22 in the communication device 20 changes the PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set.

[0045] This configuration of communication device 20 can increase the possibility of improving the communication quality of the PUCCH resource set.

[0046] The communication device 20 may be modified as follows.

[0047] <First Modification of Second Embodiment> For example, the control unit 22 may determine, for each PUCCH resource set configured in the UE, whether all of the multiple likelihoods corresponding to the multiple PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set are equal to or less than the second threshold. This determination may be performed repeatedly, for example, at a predetermined interval.

[0048] Then, when all of the plurality of likelihoods corresponding to the plurality of PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set are equal to or less than the second threshold, the control unit 22 may change the plurality of PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set to other plurality of PUCCH resources. Here, when all of the plurality of likelihoods corresponding to the plurality of PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set are equal to or less than the second threshold, it means that the communication quality of the PUCCH resource set has deteriorated. Therefore, by changing the plurality of PUCCH resources of the PUCCH resource set to other plurality of PUCCH resources, it is possible to increase the possibility that the communication quality of the PUCCH resource set will improve.

[0049] In the case of this first modification, the likelihood calculation unit 21 does not need to calculate the likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set.

[0050] <Variation 2 of the second embodiment> For example, when the control unit 22 determines that the likelihood for one PUCCH resource set as a whole is equal to or less than a first threshold, the control unit 22 may switch the PUCCH resource set actually used for the UE to another PUCCH resource set that is configured for the UE and has a likelihood for the entire PUCCH resource set that is greater than the first threshold.

[0051] Third Embodiment The third embodiment relates to an adjustment to lower the likelihood when decoding fails. This adjustment can be applied to both the communication device of the first embodiment and the communication device of the second embodiment, but here, the case where it is applied to the communication device of the first embodiment will be described as an example.

[0052] Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 5, a communication device 30 includes an acquisition unit 11, a replica signal formation unit 13, a likelihood calculation unit 14, a decoding unit 31, and a control unit 32. Note that the acquisition unit 11 and the decoding unit 31 may correspond to the physical layer, and the replica signal formation unit 13, the likelihood calculation unit 14, and the control unit 32 may correspond to a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer.

[0053] If the decoding unit 31 fails to decode a PUCCH signal, it outputs information indicating the PUCCH resource corresponding to that PUCCH signal (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “failed resource information”) to the control unit 32 .

[0054] When the control unit 32 receives the failure resource information, the control unit 32 performs adjustment to lower the likelihood corresponding to the PUCCH resource indicated by the failure resource information, and then selects a resource to be used by the terminal based on the likelihood after adjustment.

[0055] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 32 includes a likelihood update unit 32A, a storage unit 32B, a likelihood adjustment unit 32C, and a selection unit 32D.

[0056] The storage unit 32B stores a likelihood table that associates multiple PUCCH resources in multiple PUCCH resource sets configured in the UE with likelihoods corresponding to each PUCCH resource.

[0057] The likelihood update unit 32A updates the likelihood table using the likelihood for each PUCCH resource calculated by the likelihood calculation unit 14 .

[0058] Upon receiving the failure resource information, the likelihood adjustment unit 32C performs an adjustment to lower the likelihood corresponding to the PUCCH resource indicated by the failure resource information in the likelihood table.

[0059] The selection unit 32D refers to the likelihood table and selects a PUCCH resource to be used by the UE for transmitting UCI from among the multiple PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set.

[0060] As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the likelihood update unit 32A of the control unit 32 in the communication device 30 receives failure resource information, it performs an adjustment to lower the likelihood corresponding to the PUCCH resource indicated by the failure resource information in the likelihood table.

[0061] When degradation of the communication quality of a PUCCH resource is detected due to a decoding failure, the communication device 30 can reflect the degradation of the communication quality in the likelihood, thereby enabling selection of a more suitable PUCCH resource.

[0062] <Fourth Embodiment> The fourth embodiment relates to notification of information on selected PUCCH resources.

[0063] Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device according to the fourth embodiment. In Fig. 6, a communication device 40 includes an acquisition unit 11, a decoding unit 12, a replica signal formation unit 13, a likelihood calculation unit 14, a control unit 15, and a notification unit 41. Note that the acquisition unit 11 and the decoding unit 12 may correspond to the physical layer, and the replica signal formation unit 13, the likelihood calculation unit 14, the control unit 15, and the notification unit 41 may correspond to a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer.

[0064] The notification unit 41 notifies the UE of information related to the PUCCH resource selected by the control unit 15. For example, the notification unit 41 notifies the UE of the information related to the PUCCH resource selected by the control unit 15 by including it in a downlink control information message (i.e., a DCI format). More specifically, the notification unit 41 may notify the UE of the information related to the PUCCH resource selected by the control unit 15 by using a PUCCH resource indicator field in the DCI format.

[0065] Fifth Embodiment The fifth embodiment relates to notification of information about a PUCCH resource set in which the PUCCH resources have been changed.

[0066] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a communication device according to the fifth embodiment. In Fig. 7, a communication device 50 includes an acquisition unit 11, a decoding unit 12, a replica signal formation unit 13, a likelihood calculation unit 21, a control unit 22, and a notification unit 51. Note that the acquisition unit 11 and the decoding unit 12 may correspond to the physical layer, and the replica signal formation unit 13, the likelihood calculation unit 21, the control unit 22, and the notification unit 51 may correspond to a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer.

[0067] The notification unit 51 includes information about the PUCCH resource set whose resources have been changed by the control unit 22 in an upper layer signal and transmits the signal to the UE. The upper layer signal may be an RRC (Radio Resource Control) message. Furthermore, the information about the PUCCH resource set whose resources have been changed may be included in an uplink channel configuration information element ("PUCCH-Config IE") of the RRC message. More specifically, the information may be included in a "PUCCH-ResourceSet IE" of the "PUCCH-Config IE." The "PUCCH-ResourceSet IE" may include information about multiple PUCCH resource sets configured for the UE, including the PUCCH resource set whose resources have been changed, and information about the multiple PUCCH resources included in each PUCCH resource set. By transmitting an RRC message including information about the PUCCH resource set whose resources have been changed in this way, the PUCCH resource set is reconfigured.

[0068] Note that the notification unit 51 may notify the UE of information relating to the PUCCH resource selected by the control unit 22, similar to the notification unit 41 of the fourth embodiment.

[0069] <Other Embodiments> Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a communication device. In Fig. 8, the communication device 100 includes a processor 101 and a memory 102. The processor 101 may be, for example, a microprocessor, a microprocessing unit (MPU), or a central processing unit (CPU). The processor 101 may include multiple processors. The memory 102 is configured by a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The memory 102 may include storage located remotely from the processor 101. In this case, the processor 101 may access the memory 102 via an I / O interface (not illustrated).

[0070] The communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 of the first to fifth embodiments may each have the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 8 . The acquisition unit 11, decoding units 12 and 31, replica signal formation unit 13, likelihood calculation units 14 and 21, control units 15, 22, and 32, and notification units 41 and 51 of the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 of the first to fifth embodiments may be realized by the processor 101 reading and executing a program stored in the memory 102. The program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media and supplied to the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, and hard disk drives) and magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks). Further examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, and CD-R / Ws. Further, examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include semiconductor memory. Semiconductor memory includes, for example, mask ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), flash ROM, and random access memory (RAM). The program may also be provided to the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 by various types of transitory computer-readable media. Examples of transitory computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer-readable media may provide the program to the communication devices 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 via wired communication paths such as electrical wires and optical fibers, or wireless communication paths.

[0071] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the contents of the embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

[0072] Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes. (Supplementary Note 1) A communication device comprising: demodulation means for demodulating a received physical uplink control channel signal to obtain a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel; decoding means for decoding the physical uplink control channel signal to obtain physical uplink control channel data; replica signal forming means for forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data; likelihood calculation means for calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; and control means for selecting, from the plurality of resources, a resource to be used by a terminal for transmitting uplink control information based on the likelihood calculated for each resource. (Supplementary Note 2) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the likelihood calculation means further calculates a likelihood for the entire resource set, and the control means changes the resources of the resource set when the likelihood for the entire resource set is equal to or less than a first threshold. (Supplementary Note 3) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the control means changes the resources of the resource set when all of a plurality of likelihoods respectively corresponding to the plurality of resources of the resource set are equal to or less than a second threshold. (Supplementary Note 4) The communication device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, wherein the control means comprises: likelihood adjustment means for performing an adjustment to lower the likelihood corresponding to a resource of the physical uplink control channel signal that has failed to be decoded; and selection means for selecting a resource to be used by the terminal based on the likelihood after the adjustment. (Supplementary Note 5) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the terminal of information related to the selected resource. (Supplementary Note 6) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein the notification means notifies the terminal of the information related to the selected resource by including it in a downlink control information message.(Supplementary Note 7) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 2 or 3, further comprising: notification means for notifying the terminal of information on a resource set in which the resources have been changed. (Supplementary Note 8) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 7, wherein the notification means notifies the terminal of the information on the resource set in which the resources have been changed by including the information on the resource set in a higher layer signal and transmitting the signal to the terminal. (Supplementary Note 9) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the higher layer signal is an RRC (Radio Resource Control) message. (Supplementary Note 10) The communication device according to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the notification means includes the information on the resource set in which the resources have been changed in a physical uplink control channel configuration information element of the RRC message. (Supplementary Note 11) A communication control method comprising: obtaining a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel by demodulating a physical uplink control channel received signal; obtaining physical uplink control channel data by decoding the physical uplink control channel signal; forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data; calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; and selecting, from the plurality of resources, a resource to be used by a terminal for transmitting the physical uplink control channel based on the likelihood calculated for each resource. (Supplementary Note 12) The communication control method according to Supplementary Note 11, further comprising: calculating a likelihood for the entire resource set; and changing the resources of the resource set if the likelihood for the entire resource set is equal to or less than a first threshold. (Supplementary Note 13) The communication control method according to Supplementary Note 11, further comprising changing resources of the resource set when all of a plurality of likelihoods respectively corresponding to the plurality of resources of the resource set are equal to or less than a second threshold.(Supplementary Note 14) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that causes a communication device to execute a process including: obtaining a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel by demodulating a physical uplink control channel received signal, obtaining physical uplink control channel data by decoding the physical uplink control channel signal, forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data, calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value, and selecting a resource to be used by a terminal for transmitting the physical uplink control channel from among the plurality of resources based on the likelihood calculated for each resource. (Supplementary Note 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to Supplementary Note 14, wherein the process further includes: calculating a likelihood for the entire resource set, and changing resources of the resource set if the likelihood for the entire resource set is equal to or less than a first threshold. (Supplementary Note 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of Supplementary Note 14, wherein the processing further comprises changing resources of the resource set when all of a plurality of likelihoods respectively corresponding to the plurality of resources of the resource set are equal to or less than a second threshold. (Supplementary Note 17) A communications device comprising: means for acquiring a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of a physical uplink control channel; means for encoding physical uplink control channel data decoded from the physical uplink control channel signal to form a replica signal; and means for selecting a resource to be used by a terminal to transmit uplink control information from among the plurality of resources, based on a likelihood relating to a correlation between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal.

[0073] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Communication device 11 Acquisition unit 11A Demodulation unit 12 Decoding unit 13 Replica signal formation unit 14 Likelihood calculation unit 15 Control unit 20 Communication device 21 Likelihood calculation unit 22 Control unit 30 Communication device 31 Decoding unit 32 Control unit 32A Likelihood update unit 32B Storage unit 32C Likelihood adjustment unit 32D Selection unit 40 Communication device 41 Notification unit 50 Communication device 51 Notification unit 100 Communication device 101 Processor 102 Memory

Claims

1. demodulation means for demodulating a received physical uplink control channel signal to obtain a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of the physical uplink control channel; decoding means for decoding the physical uplink control channel signal to obtain physical uplink control channel data; replica signal forming means for forming a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal by encoding the physical uplink control channel data; a likelihood calculation means for calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal, and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; a control means for selecting a resource to be used by a terminal for transmitting uplink control information from the plurality of resources based on the likelihood calculated for each resource; A communication device comprising:

2. The likelihood calculation means further calculates a likelihood for the entire resource set, the control means changes the resources of the resource set when the likelihood for the entire resource set is equal to or less than a first threshold. The communication device according to claim 1 .

3. the control means changes the resources of the resource set when all of a plurality of likelihoods respectively corresponding to the plurality of resources of the resource set are equal to or less than a second threshold. The communication device according to claim 1 .

4. The control means a likelihood adjustment means for adjusting the likelihood corresponding to the resource of the physical uplink control channel signal that has failed to be decoded; a selection means for selecting a resource to be used by the terminal based on the adjusted likelihood; Equipped with The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. further comprising a notification means for notifying the terminal of information regarding the selected resource. The communication device according to claim 1 .

6. 4. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the terminal of information about the resource set in which the resources have been changed.

7. demodulating a received physical uplink control channel signal to obtain a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of the physical uplink control channel; obtaining physical uplink control channel data by decoding the physical uplink control channel signal; encoding the physical uplink control channel data to form a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal; calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal, and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; selecting a resource from the plurality of resources to be used by a terminal for transmitting the physical uplink control channel based on the likelihood calculated for each resource; A communication control method including:

8. demodulating a received physical uplink control channel signal to obtain a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of the physical uplink control channel; obtaining physical uplink control channel data by decoding the physical uplink control channel signal; encoding the physical uplink control channel data to form a replica signal of the physical uplink control channel signal; calculating a correlation value between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal, and calculating a likelihood based on the calculated correlation value; selecting a resource from the plurality of resources to be used by a terminal for transmitting the physical uplink control channel based on the likelihood calculated for each resource; A program that causes a communication device to execute a process including the steps of:

9. means for acquiring a physical uplink control channel signal transmitted on each of a plurality of resources included in a resource set of the physical uplink control channel; means for encoding physical uplink control channel data decoded from the physical uplink control channel signal to form a replica signal; means for selecting, from the plurality of resources, a resource to be used by a terminal for transmitting uplink control information based on a likelihood of correlation between the physical uplink control channel signal and the replica signal; A communication device comprising: