Component Carrier Signaling for Multi-TRP Data Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing concurrent connections with both current and next-generation radio access technologies, particularly in maintaining reliable and efficient data transmission across multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs).

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multi-TRP communication protocol that allows wireless devices to establish and maintain concurrent connections with both current and next-generation radio access technologies by coordinating data transmission and reception across multiple TRPs using scheduling information and encoding schemes, enabling simultaneous or sequential data transmission and reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless devices establish concurrent connections with multiple TRPs using multi-TRP communication protocol, then data transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication function by introducing separate MAC entities for different TRPs (first TRP and second TRP). Each MAC entity independently manages connections to specific TRPs, allowing the device to handle multiple TRPs concurrently without requiring a single complex MAC entity to manage all connections. This segmentation improves reliability through diverse transmission paths while distributing complexity across multiple simpler, independent MAC entities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If wireless devices coordinate data transmission across multiple TRPs using scheduling information, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but communication protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication protocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action through scheduling information that is provided in advance to the wireless device. The network entity determines and communicates scheduling information before data transmission occurs, specifying which MAC entity should transmit or receive data at given time resources. This allows the device to prepare and coordinate multi-TRP transmissions efficiently without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thereby improving data transmission efficiency while managing protocol complexity through pre-planned coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If wireless devices maintain concurrent connections with current and next-generation radio access technologies, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing the multi-TRP communication protocol to be technology-agnostic, allowing wireless devices to maintain concurrent connections with multiple TRPs regardless of whether they operate on current or next-generation radio access technologies. The MAC entity structure and scheduling mechanism are designed to work across different RATs, enabling a single device to simultaneously support legacy and advanced technologies without requiring separate specialized protocols for each, thus improving adaptability while controlling system complexity through a unified framework.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4059179B1Multi-transmission and receipt point (multi-TRP) enhancement
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 APPLE INC
  • EP4059179B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4059179B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4059179B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In an example method, a user equipment (UE) device determines one or more component carriers available to the UE device for at least one of transmitting or receiving data over a wireless network. The UE device transmits, to the wireless network, for each component carrier, an indication whether the component carrier supports at least one of transmitting or receiving data according to a multi-transmission and receiving points (multi-TRP) communication protocol.