Common DCI Across Multiple PDCCH Aggregation Levels

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting common control information to user equipment (UEs) with different capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in resource utilization and compatibility issues between UEs with varying aggregation levels.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of common downlink control information (DCI) that can be decoded at multiple aggregation levels, allowing UEs with different capabilities to interpret the control signaling, thereby improving resource utilization and ensuring compatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If common control information is transmitted using a larger aggregation level, then coverage is improved for certain UEs, but resource utilization decreases and processor/memory usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecoverageVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control information is segmented into multiple parts distributed across different aggregation levels. UEs can receive the complete information through multiple smaller transmissions rather than requiring one large transmission, improving resource utilization while maintaining coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the aggregation level parameter based on UE capability and channel conditions. Different UEs receive control information at different aggregation levels, optimizing both coverage for capability-constrained UEs and resource utilization for capable UEs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If common control information is transmitted using a larger aggregation level, then coverage is improved for certain UEs, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecoverageVSAvoidprocessor and memory usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control information is segmented into multiple parts distributed across different aggregation levels. UEs can receive the complete information through multiple smaller transmissions rather than requiring one large transmission, improving resource utilization while maintaining coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the aggregation level parameter based on UE capability and channel conditions. Different UEs receive control information at different aggregation levels, optimizing both coverage for capability-constrained UEs and resource utilization for capable UEs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate control signaling is transmitted for UEs with different aggregation levels, then compatibility is ensured, but resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Control information for multiple aggregation levels is merged into a single transmission structure. The same control message is encoded at multiple aggregation levels simultaneously, allowing UEs with different capabilities to decode from the same transmission, improving resource utilization while maintaining compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control signaling structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides compatibility for UEs with different aggregation level capabilities while simultaneously optimizing resource utilization. A single control message structure serves both RedCap and non-RedCap UEs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260082396A1Common control channel

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive common downlink control information (DCI) included in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidate, wherein the PDCCH candidate has a first size associated with a first aggregation level, wherein the common DCI is detectable at the first aggregation level by decoding the PDCCH candidate and detectable at a second aggregation level, smaller than the first aggregation level, by decoding a part of the PDCCH candidate, and wherein the part of the PDCCH candidate has a second size associated with the second aggregation level. The UE may communicate based at least in part on the common DCI. Numerous other aspects are described.