Multiple Downlink Control Channels for 5G Sub-band Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G systems do not support sub-band based scheduling, leading to reduced throughput due to the inability to utilize sub-band CQI and PMI reports, as they average SINR over all sub-bands, rendering sub-band reporting ineffective.

Innovation Solution

Implementing multiple downlink control channels to indicate sub-band resources and corresponding modulation and coding schemes, allowing the network to schedule sub-bands optimally based on channel quality, thereby improving sector and cell edge user throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single downlink control channel is used for scheduling, then the system structure remains simple, but sub-band based scheduling cannot be implemented and throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidcontrol channel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single downlink control channel into multiple separate downlink control channels, each dedicated to scheduling specific sub-bands. This segmentation enables sub-band based scheduling by creating specialized control channels that can independently manage different frequency resources, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple structure and achieving higher throughput through advanced scheduling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to the control channel structure by creating multiple control channels operating in parallel rather than using a single channel. This dimensional expansion allows the system to simultaneously handle multiple sub-band scheduling tasks, enabling frequency selective scheduling and improving throughput without creating a single point of bottleneck.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If sub-band CQI and PMI reports are averaged over all sub-bands, then the feedback processing is simplified, but the sub-band reporting becomes ineffective for frequency selective scheduling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency selective scheduling capabilityVSAvoidfeedback processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback processing by creating separate downlink control channels for different sub-bands. This allows sub-band CQI and PMI reports to be processed and utilized according to their specific frequency characteristics rather than being averaged together, enabling effective frequency selective scheduling while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different processing approaches for different sub-bands based on their channel conditions. Instead of uniform averaging across all sub-bands, the system can apply appropriate processing to each sub-band's CQI and PMI reports, preserving the frequency-selective information needed for adaptive scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11399389B2Facilitation of frequency selective scheduling for 5G or other next generation network

Publication Date: 2022.07.26 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Sub bands can be scheduled with optimal modulation and coding scheme (MCS) when the user equipment reports the sub band channel quality indicator (CQI) and sub band pre-coding matrix index (PMI). The network can use multiple downlink control channels to indicate the sub band resources and the corresponding MCS for that resource allocation. By using multiple downlink control channels to indicate the sub band MCS, the network can use resources more efficiently.