Announcement Information Block for Link Budget Limited Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Link budget limited wireless devices face challenges in decoding the downlink control channel, which is necessary for determining the resource assignment of system information in wireless communication systems, leading to difficulties in accessing cellular networks, especially in poor RF conditions.
Innovation Solution
A base station transmits an announcement information block (AIB) in the downlink shared data channel, containing resource assignment information for system information blocks, allowing wireless devices to determine the location and decode system information without decoding the downlink control channel, thereby facilitating access to cellular networks for link budget limited devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless devices decode the downlink control channel to determine system information resource assignment, then they can access system information, but link budget limited devices fail to decode the control channel in poor RF conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the system information resource assignment indication from the downlink control channel (PDCCH) and places it directly into the downlink shared data channel (PDSCH) within the system information message itself. This allows link budget limited devices to obtain resource assignment information without needing to successfully decode the control channel, thereby resolving the decoding failure issue while maintaining reliable system information access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the system information message itself carries the resource assignment indication for subsequent system information messages. This self-contained approach eliminates the dependency on external control channel decoding, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap for devices with poor control channel reception capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If system information resource assignment is indicated in the downlink control channel, then resource assignment flexibility is maintained, but link budget limited devices cannot decode the control channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the resource assignment indication with the system information message content by including it directly in the PDSCH transmission. This combination allows the same data channel to serve dual purposes: carrying both the resource assignment information and the system information content, thereby maintaining resource flexibility while improving decoding ease for link budget limited devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The downlink shared data channel (PDSCH) is given multi-functionality by making it carry both the system information messages and the resource assignment indications. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate control channel decoding, making the system accessible to both normal devices and link budget limited devices while preserving resource assignment flexibility.
3Reliability
If link budget limited devices decode system information without PDCCH, then their network access capability improves, but additional signaling mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system information message contains its own resource assignment indication for subsequent messages. This self-contained approach eliminates the need for external control channel signaling, thereby improving network access capability for link budget limited devices without requiring complex additional signaling mechanisms from the network side.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to providing system information for cell access to link budget limited devices. According to some embodiments, a base station may transmit an announcement information block (MB) in a downlink shared data channel (e.g., PDSCH), wherein the AIB contains information useable by a UE in determining the location of system information in the downlink shared data channel. The UE can thus determine the location of and decode system information without having to decode a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH). This may be important for certain classes of devices, such as link budget limited devices, which have issues in decoding the downlink control channel. Improved paging scheduling techniques are also disclosed which more efficiently use PDCCH paging resources.