Multi-Group Component Carrier PUCCH Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face limitations in supporting a large number of component carriers due to bandwidth constraints and control channel signaling capabilities, particularly with the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), which affects the efficiency of multi-carrier wireless communication.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that allows for multiple groups of component carriers, each with its associated PUCCH, enabling more than five downlink component carriers to be supported by configuring a first and second physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) to efficiently manage control channel signaling and data transmission across multiple carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single PUCCH is used for control channel signaling, then the system complexity is kept simple, but the number of supported downlink component carriers is limited to five or fewer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of supported downlink component carriersVSAvoidcontrol channel signaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the component carriers into multiple groups, with each group associated with a separate PUCCH. This segmentation allows the system to support more than five downlink component carriers by distributing the control signaling load across multiple PUCCHs, thereby resolving the contradiction between supporting more carriers and maintaining simple control channel signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PUCCHs are configured to support more than five downlink component carriers, then the carrier support capacity increases, but the control channel signaling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of supported downlink component carriersVSAvoidcontrol channel signaling configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting component carriers into groups and assigning each group to a dedicated PUCCH, the patent enables support for more than five downlink component carriers. The segmentation approach organizes the increased complexity in a structured manner, making the system manageable while achieving the goal of supporting more carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the available bandwidth spectrum is increased to support more carriers, then the carrier capacity increases, but the bandwidth resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier capacityVSAvoidbandwidth spectrum
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing bandwidth spectrum (one dimension) to support more carriers, the patent introduces a new dimension by configuring multiple PUCCHs. This dimensional change allows the system to support more component carriers without proportionally increasing bandwidth consumption, as the additional carriers are managed through enhanced control channel structure rather than simply allocating more spectral resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3170278B1Techniques for enabling component carriers for multi-carrier wireless communication
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3170278B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3170278B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3170278B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to one or more techniques for enabling component carriers for multi-carrier wireless communication. A capability of a UE or base station to support more than five downlink component carriers may be identified and indicated. A multi-carrier configuration, which may include more than five component carriers may be received. The multi-carrier configuration may include a first group of component carriers and a second group of component carriers. A first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a second PUCCH, or a combination of the first PUCCH and the second PUCCH, may be transmitted. The first PUCCH may be associated with the plurality of downlink component carriers of the first group, and the second PUCCH may be associated with the at least one downlink component carrier of the second group.