ACK-Only UE Feedback for Separate PDSCH Processing Delays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies due to UEs with limited RF capabilities forming virtual UEs, leading to unnecessary retransmissions and delays in ACK/NACK feedback, particularly when separate baseband processing is employed.

Innovation Solution

Configuring a group of interconnected UEs to transmit ACK-only feedback, with varying power levels based on the number of UEs acknowledging successful decoding, to prevent unnecessary retransmissions and reduce feedback delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UEs transmit full ACK/NACK feedback, then the network node has complete information about decoding status, but unnecessary retransmissions occur and feedback delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecoding status informationVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential feedback information (ACK/NACK) from the complete decoding status report, eliminating unnecessary NACK feedback from UEs that successfully decoded the communication. This selective feedback mechanism reduces overhead and prevents unnecessary retransmissions while maintaining network reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring UEs to report all decoding failures (NACK-only approach), the patent inverts the logic by having UEs report only successful decodes (ACK feedback). The network node assumes failure status by default unless an ACK is received, which fundamentally changes the feedback paradigm and eliminates unnecessary retransmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If UEs with limited RF capabilities form virtual UEs, then coverage is extended, but feedback processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUE capability supportVSAvoidfeedback processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the feedback processing of multiple UEs into a single virtual UE entity. By combining the feedback mechanisms of individual UEs with limited RF capabilities into a unified virtual UE structure, the system extends coverage to these devices while managing feedback processing complexity through consolidation rather than multiplication of processing units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If ACK-only feedback is transmitted, then retransmission overhead is reduced, but feedback timing may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretransmission efficiencyVSAvoidfeedback delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the network node prepare for potential retransmissions in advance. Instead of waiting for complete feedback from all UEs before initiating retransmission decisions, the network node uses the ACK feedback timing and prepares retransmission resources beforehand, reducing overall feedback delay while maintaining retransmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260067050A1Acknowledgment only feedback for user equipment cooperation with separate physical downlink shared channel processing

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive configuration information to configure the UE to transmit acknowledgment (ACK)-only feedback. The UE may transmit feedback for a communication in accordance with the configuration information. Numerous other aspects are described.