5G NR Control Resource Reuse for Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G NR systems, there is a challenge in efficiently allocating resources in the control resource region for data transmission, including determining available resources, identifying suitable data types, and indicating the starting positions of data resources that overlap with control resource sets.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for reusing control resources for data transmission by determining a control resource set associated with a terminal device, selecting localized control resources for control information, and selecting data resources in both the control resource region and a data resource region, thereby optimizing resource utilization and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If control resources are dynamically allocated in time and frequency domains for 5G NR, then resource flexibility and adaptability improve, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to unused control resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource flexibilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables control resources to serve dual purposes: first for control information transmission (PDCCH), then for data transmission (PDSCH) when control resources are not fully utilized. This multi-functionality allows the same time-frequency resources to be dynamically repurposed, improving overall resource utilization while maintaining the flexibility of dynamic allocation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers unused control resources by identifying control resource elements that are not allocated for control information and making them available for data transmission. This recovery mechanism transforms wasted resources into usable data resources, directly improving resource utilization efficiency while preserving allocation flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Loss of information

If control resource sets are associated with terminal devices and localized control resources are selected, then signaling overhead is reduced, but device complexity increases due to database management and resource selection procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary association between control resource sets and terminal devices before actual data transmission. By pre-establishing these relationships and storing them in a database, the system avoids complex real-time signaling during data transmission, reducing signaling overhead while managing complexity through advance preparation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a database record that copies and stores the association relationship between control resource sets and terminal devices. This copied information can be quickly referenced without requiring complex real-time calculations or extensive signaling, reducing both signaling overhead and processing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If data resources are selected in both control resource region and data resource region, then resource utilization improves, but measurement and detection difficulty increases due to overlapping regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidresource identification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the resource selection process into distinct steps: first selecting control resources from control resource sets, then identifying unused portions, and finally selecting data resources from both control resource region (unused portions) and data resource region. This segmentation makes the complex overlapping resource management more manageable and detectable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent handles the two-dimensional resource selection (control resource region and data resource region) by treating them as separate selectable domains. The system can choose to allocate data resources from either or both regions based on availability, transforming the complexity of overlapping regions into a flexible multi-option selection process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3909340B1Reuse of control resources for data transmission
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3909340B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3909340B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3909340B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a device, method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium for reusing control resources for data transmission. In example embodiments, if downlink data is to be transmitted to a terminal device, a network device determines a control resource set associated with the terminal device in a control resource region. The network device selects, from the control resource set, localized control resources for control information associated with the downlink data, and selects data resources for the downlink data in the control resource region and a data resource region. The network device transmits the control information to the terminal device by using the localized control resources, and transmits the downlink data to the terminal device by using the data resources.