Base Station Feedback Aggregation for MTC Resource Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of machine type communication (MTC) in the Internet of Things, existing feedback mechanisms for acknowledging or negating uplink data in base stations are inefficient, particularly in coverage enhancement scenarios, as they consume high system resources due to the need for repeated transmissions and complex control channel usage.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station determines the feedback mode for each user equipment (UE) based on coverage enhancement levels and transmits acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement feedback using a single control channel, optimizing the downlink control information format to reduce resource usage by bundling feedback for multiple UEs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the base station sends ACK/NACK feedback to each UE separately using individual control channels (PHICH, PDCCH, or EPDCCH), then each UE can receive its feedback reliably, but system resource overhead increases significantly especially in coverage enhancement scenarios requiring repeated transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges feedback information for multiple UEs into a single control channel transmission. Specifically, the base station aggregates ACK/NACK feedback for multiple UEs and transmits them together through one EPDCCH, thereby reducing the number of control channels needed and lowering system resource overhead while maintaining reliable feedback delivery to each UE
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single control channel (EPDCCH) serve multiple functions by enabling it to carry feedback information for multiple different UEs simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows one control channel to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate control channels, thus reducing resource consumption
2Quantity of substance
If the base station uses EPDCCH to transmit ACK/NACK feedback for multiple UEs, then resource usage improves compared to separate control channels, but the DCI needs to be repeatedly used in coverage enhancement scenarios resulting in extremely low system resource usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the feedback information for multiple UEs into distinct fields within a single DCI structure. Each UE's feedback is assigned to a specific field or bit position within the aggregated feedback message, allowing the base station to transmit all feedback in one go without needing to repeat the entire DCI multiple times for different UEs
3Ease of manufacture
If the base station limits terminal device operating bandwidth to 1.4 MHz for cost reduction, then device cost decreases, but coverage capability deteriorates due to reduced bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized control channel (EPDCCH) as an intermediary that enables efficient feedback transmission for MTC devices with limited bandwidth. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to maintain reliable communication and feedback loops even when devices operate with reduced bandwidth (1.4 MHz), thus preserving coverage capability while supporting cost-reduced devices
Data Source
AI summary
A feedback information transmission method, a base station, and user equipment are provided. The feedback information transmission method includes: receiving, by a base station, uplink data separately sent by a plurality of user equipments (UEs); determining, by the base station, feedback information for uplink data sent by each of the plurality of UEs, where the feedback information indicates an acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK); and transmitting, by the base station by using one control channel, a plurality of pieces of feedback information respectively corresponding to the uplink data sent by the plurality of UEs.