Carrier Aggregation Scheduling via Segmented DCI

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the LTE system, especially with enhanced carrier aggregation, the existing methods for scheduling multiple carriers face limitations due to the PUCCH capacity, leading to inefficient use of air interface resources and reduced DCI receiving performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method reduces the number of bits in the downlink control information (DCI) by utilizing an existing carrier indicator field (CIF) without modifying the number of bits, allowing for more efficient scheduling of multiple carriers while maintaining compatibility with existing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of bits of CIF is increased to schedule more carriers, then the scheduling capability is improved, but the total number of bits of DCI increases, occupying more air interface resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling capabilityVSAvoidnumber of bits of DCI
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the carrier scheduling function by introducing multiple scheduling carriers instead of using a single CIF field. Each scheduling carrier is responsible for scheduling a subset of service carriers, thereby avoiding the need to increase the CIF bit length while maintaining the ability to schedule a large number of carriers. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing the scheduling burden across multiple carriers rather than concentrating it in a single DCI field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of bits of DCI is increased, then more carriers can be scheduled, but the receiving performance of DCI is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier scheduling capacityVSAvoidDCI receiving performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the carrier scheduling function across multiple scheduling carriers, the patent avoids increasing the DCI bit length. Each scheduling carrier transmits DCI for only a subset of carriers, keeping the DCI format compact and maintaining good receiving performance while achieving the capability to schedule many carriers through the combined effort of multiple scheduling carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple scheduling carriers are used to schedule a large number of carriers, then the PUCCH capacity limitation is overcome, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier aggregation capacityVSAvoidscheduling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes multiple carriers serve as scheduling carriers, giving them the universal function of carrying DCI for scheduling. Each scheduling carrier can schedule multiple service carriers, and the UE can receive DCI from multiple scheduling carriers. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to handle large numbers of carriers without requiring complex dedicated scheduling mechanisms for each carrier group.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3240345B1Enhanced carrier aggregation scheduling method and device in user equipment and base station
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 SISVEL INT
  • EP3240345B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3240345B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3240345B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are an enhanced carrier aggregation (CA) scheduling method and device in a user equipment (UE) and a base station, the method comprising: in a first step, a UE receives a high-level signaling determining K sets of configuration information, the configuration information comprising {a first index, a second index, a third index, and working frequency band information}; in a second step, the UE receives, at a first service cell, a first signaling, the first signaling comprising a fourth index and scheduling information; and in a third step, the UE determines a second service cell according to first configuration information and the fourth index in the first signaling. The present invention reduces the number of bits in downlink control information (DCI), thus conserving an air interface resource, or improving the receiving performance of the DCI. Furthermore, the present invention instructs the third index not to modify the number of bits of the DCI by utilizing an existing carrier indicator field (CIF), thus maximally maintaining compatibility with an existing system.