5G MAC Uplink Grant Scheduling Across Multiple Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional approach of servicing multiple service grants from multiple cells in a 5G system is inefficient and time-consuming due to the need to manage multiple logical channel data packets from different bandwidths and radio channel conditions, which is not effectively addressed by existing methods like logical channel prioritization and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A method for evaluating, rating, and prioritizing multiple service grants based on a scoring function considering radio channel conditions, followed by a scheduling algorithm that assigns scheduling opportunities to these grants, allowing low priority packets to be transmitted intermittently between high priority packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple uplink carriers are scheduled using multiple DCI formats, then uplink scheduling flexibility and resource allocation efficiency are improved, but processing complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple DCI formats into a single unified DCI format that schedules multiple uplink carriers simultaneously. This merging approach maintains the scheduling flexibility and resource allocation efficiency of multiple DCI formats while reducing processing complexity by handling all carrier scheduling through one consolidated message structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified DCI format is designed to serve multiple functions by scheduling different types of uplink carriers (PUSCH, PUCCH, SRS) across multiple component carriers within a single message. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate DCI formats for each carrier type, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining comprehensive scheduling capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple DCI formats are used for scheduling multiple uplink carriers, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but UE power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple DCI formats into a single unified format that schedules multiple uplink carriers simultaneously. This reduces the number of separate messages the UE must process and decode, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving the scheduling flexibility needed for efficient resource allocation across multiple carriers.
3Measurement precision
If separate DCI formats are used for each uplink carrier, then scheduling precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines scheduling information for multiple uplink carriers into a single unified DCI format, reducing signaling overhead by eliminating redundant message structures. The format includes carrier-specific fields that maintain precise scheduling control for each carrier while consolidating the overall signaling into one efficient message.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified DCI format is segmented into carrier-specific sections, each containing precise scheduling information for individual uplink carriers. This segmentation allows the patent to maintain high scheduling precision for each carrier while organizing the information efficiently within a single DCI structure, reducing overall signaling overhead.
4Productivity
If multiple DCI formats are processed, then uplink resource allocation efficiency is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple DCI formats into a single unified format that schedules multiple uplink carriers simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the time required for the UE to receive, process, and act on scheduling information, thereby reducing latency while maintaining efficient resource allocation across all scheduled carriers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods for managing a scheduling service for communications (e.g., uplink medium access control (MAC) grants) are disclosed herein. The method includes (i) determining a score for each of multiple service grants from multiple cells based on a scoring function, wherein the scoring function includes one or more radio channel conditions associated with the multiple service grants; (ii) prioritizing the multiple service grants based on the determined scores; and (iii) assigning scheduling opportunities to the multiple service grants based on the determined scores of the multiple cells in a geometric decreasing manner.