Coherent PUCCH Block Multiplexing for Single-Carrier Uplink
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently multiplexing multiple users and resources within physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) due to limitations in current PUCCH formats, especially for single-carrier waveforms.
Innovation Solution
A coherent PUCCH format is introduced, allowing for multiplexing of reference signal (RS), data, and gap blocks in time-domain, enabling code-division multiplexing across and within PUCCH symbols, and sharing DMRS locations among users, which is more suitable for single-carrier waveforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional PUCCH formats are used for single-carrier waveforms, then existing system compatibility is maintained, but resource efficiency and multiplexing capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The PUCCH symbol is segmented into multiple sample blocks (reference signal sample blocks, data sample blocks, gap sample blocks) that can be independently configured and multiplexed. This segmentation enables flexible code-division multiplexing of multiple users within a single PUCCH symbol, improving resource efficiency without requiring entirely new PUCCH formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces time-domain multiplexing of sample blocks within PUCCH symbols, adding a temporal dimension to the multiplexing structure. By multiplexing reference signal blocks, data blocks, and gap blocks in the time domain, the system achieves enhanced user multiplexing capability while maintaining compatibility with single-carrier waveform requirements.
2Productivity
If more users are multiplexed in PUCCH, then resource efficiency improves, but interference management and signal quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the PUCCH symbol into separate reference signal sample blocks and data sample blocks, the patent enables independent channel estimation for each user. This segmentation allows multiple users to be multiplexed with maintained signal quality, as each user's reference signal can be independently processed to reduce inter-user interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap sample blocks serve as intermediaries between reference signal blocks and data blocks, providing isolation that reduces interference between multiplexed users. These gap blocks act as protective elements that maintain signal quality while enabling higher user multiplexing density within the PUCCH resource.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects presented herein may enable a UE to transmit a PUCCH formed by a flexible concatenation of different types of blocks, such as one or more data sample blocks, one or more RS blocks, and/or one or more gap blocks within a PUCCH symbol. In one aspect, a UE receives, from a network entity, an indication to transmit one or more PUCCH symbols that are associated with a coherent PUCCH format, where each PUCCH symbol of the one or more PUCCH symbols associated with the coherent PUCCH format includes at least one RS sample block, at least one data sample block, or at least one gap sample block multiplexed in time-domain. The UE transmits, for the network entity, the one or more PUCCH symbols.