Common UL Beam Indication for Signaling Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dynamic beam indication in wireless communications leads to higher signaling overhead and latency, making it desirable to use a common TX beam for all UL channels to reduce these issues.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a common UL beam for all UL channels by receiving a higher layer parameter and a DCI format containing a TCI field, which indicates the TCI state for UL transmission, allowing for power control parameter configuration and application across all PUSCH and PUCCH transmissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic beam indication is used for UL transmission, then beam adaptability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam adaptabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the beam indication for multiple UL channels (PUCCH, PUSCH, SRS) into a single common TX beam configuration. Instead of separately indicating beams for each channel, the network configures one common beam that applies to all UL channels, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining beam adaptability through the unified configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common TX beam configuration serves multiple UL channels simultaneously (PUCCH, PUSCH, and SRS). This universal beam indication mechanism allows a single beam configuration to fulfill the beam indication function for all uplink channels, reducing the need for channel-specific beam signaling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic beam indication is used for UL transmission, then beam adaptability is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam adaptabilityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures the common TX beam in advance using higher layer signaling (RRC or MAC CE) before actual UL transmission occurs. This preliminary configuration establishes the beam for all UL channels beforehand, eliminating the need for real-time beam indication and reducing transmission latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate beam configuration is used for different UL channels, then channel-specific optimization is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel-specific optimizationVSAvoidbeam configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies homogeneous beam configuration across all UL channels by using a common TX beam. Instead of maintaining different beam configurations for PUCCH, PUSCH, and SRS, the system uses the same beam for all channels, simplifying the UE's beam management complexity while maintaining adequate performance through the unified approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

Data Source

PatentUS20240040583A1Common TX beam indication and application for ul

Publication Date: 2024.02.01 LENOVO (BEIJING) LTD

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for common TX beam indication and application for UL transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a higher layer parameter to enable common UL beam for UL transmission for a serving cell; receiving a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 containing TCI field indicating a TCI state; and determining the common UL beam for UL transmission and the power control parameters for the UL transmission according to the TCI state indicated in the TCI field of the DCI.