Base Station Control Channel Processing for Legacy UE Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining network performance due to interference between control channels, particularly when legacy UEs are unable to reverse processing schemes applied to interference randomized control channels, leading to poor performance in interference-limited scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A base station identifies the type of user equipment (UE) associated with a cell and applies appropriate processing schemes to the control channel, using either a legacy or interference randomization scheme based on the UE's capabilities, ensuring that both types of UEs can receive and decode the control channel effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an interference randomization processing scheme is applied to the control channel, then interference between control channels from different cells is reduced, but legacy UEs that cannot reverse the processing scheme experience poor network performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference between control channelsVSAvoidnetwork performance for legacy UEs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station dynamically adapts the processing scheme applied to the control channel based on the capability of the receiving UE. When a legacy UE is detected, the base station uses a legacy processing scheme that the UE can reverse. When an advanced UE is detected, the base station uses an interference randomization processing scheme. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting the appropriate processing scheme based on real-time UE capability assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the processing parameter of the control channel based on UE type. For legacy UEs, a legacy processing scheme is applied; for advanced UEs, an interference randomization processing scheme is applied. This parameter change allows the system to optimize interference randomization for advanced UEs while maintaining compatibility with legacy UEs, thus resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a legacy processing scheme is used for the control channel, then compatibility with legacy UEs is maintained, but interference randomization capability is lost in interference-limited scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with legacy UEsVSAvoidinterference between control channels
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The base station dynamically switches between legacy processing scheme and interference randomization processing scheme based on UE capability. When an advanced UE is identified, the base station activates the interference randomization processing scheme to reduce interference. When a legacy UE is identified, the base station uses the legacy processing scheme to maintain compatibility. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between compatibility and interference randomization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The processing parameter of the control channel is changed based on the receiving UE's capability. The base station applies different processing schemes (legacy vs. interference randomization) depending on whether the UE can reverse the processing. This parameter adaptation enables the system to achieve both compatibility with legacy UEs and interference randomization for advanced UEs at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If interference randomization processing is applied to all UEs, then interference is reduced for advanced UEs, but legacy UEs become unable to decode the control channel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference between control channelsVSAvoidability to decode control channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The base station applies different processing qualities to the control channel based on the specific UE. Advanced UEs receive interference randomization processing which provides better interference protection, while legacy UEs receive legacy processing that they can decode. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring the processing scheme to each UE's capabilities rather than applying a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The base station changes the processing parameter of the control channel based on the receiving UE's capability. For advanced UEs, interference randomization processing is applied to reduce interference. For legacy UEs, legacy processing is applied to ensure they can decode the channel. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between interference reduction and decodeability by matching the processing scheme to the UE's capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3602860B1Techniques and apparatuses for channel processing backwards compatibility
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3602860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3602860B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3602860B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station (BS) may transmit, and a user equipment (UE) may receive, a physical channel, such as a narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH) or a narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH). In an interference-limited scenario in a network, it may be desirable to perform additional processing to introduce interference randomization into the control channel to ensure that the UE can recover data of the control channel. Some types of UEs, such as legacy UEs, may not be capable of recovering the control channel when the additional processing is performed. In some aspects, the BS may identify a type of UE associated with a cell, and may transmit a physical channel processed using a processing scheme selected based at least in part on the type of UE associated with the cell.