Carrier Aggregation TCI State Activation with Single MAC-CE

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing and configuring multiple component carriers with existing technologies, particularly in carrier aggregation, leading to increased signaling overhead and reduced performance, especially in identifying and activating transmission configurations, which existing methods fail to provide a single MAC-CE command that efficiently activates two or more different sets of active transmission configuration indicator states for multiple component carriers.

Innovation Solution

A single Medium Access Control (MAC)-Control Element (CE) command is used to activate different sets of active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states for groups of component carriers and bandwidth parts, reducing the number of MAC-CEs required and minimizing signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple MAC-CE commands are used to activate TCI states for each component carrier individually, then each component carrier can be configured with its own active TCI states, but the signaling overhead increases and system efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTCI state configuration flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual MAC-CE commands into a single unified MAC-CE command that can activate TCI states across multiple component carriers simultaneously. This merging approach maintains the ability to configure different TCI states for each component carrier while dramatically reducing the number of separate signaling messages required, thus lowering signaling overhead and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified MAC-CE command structure is designed to serve multiple component carriers with different TCI state configurations through a single signaling message. This multi-functional approach allows the same command format to handle diverse configuration needs across different component carriers, maintaining adaptability while reducing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If multiple MAC-CE commands are used to manage TCI states for multiple component carriers, then each carrier's TCI states can be independently managed, but the number of MAC-CE commands increases and processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndependent TCI state managementVSAvoidnumber of MAC-CE commands

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple separate MAC-CE commands into a single unified command structure that can independently manage TCI states for multiple component carriers. This consolidation reduces the total number of commands from multiple individual MAC-CEs to a single MAC-CE, simplifying the command management process while preserving independent configuration capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional methods are used to activate TCI states for multiple component carriers, then configuration accuracy can be maintained, but signaling overhead increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The unified MAC-CE command structure combines multiple configuration operations into a single signaling message, reducing the total number of transmissions required. This merging approach maintains configuration accuracy by preserving detailed TCI state information for each component carrier within the unified command, while simultaneously reducing power consumption through fewer signaling transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250374289A1Transmission configuration indicator state activation techniques for carrier aggregation

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described in which different component carriers (CCs) or bandwidth parts (BWPs) of a system operating according to carrier aggregation may be configured with different transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states. A base station may transmit control information to a user equipment (UE) to activate two or more CCs, and that indicates two or more different sets of TCI states that are activated for the two or more CCs. The control information may be transmitted to the UE in a single MAC-CE. The single MAC-CE to activate different sets of TCI states at CCs or BWPs may allow for a reduced number of MAC-CEs used for conveying the set of active TCI states for the CCS or BWPs.