Control Channel Element Aggregation for Flexible Radio Resource Assignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in resource allocation and decoding processes, particularly in composite control channels with multiple control channel elements, leading to excessive capacity and difficulties in assigning resources based on varying user needs within a transmission time interval (TTI).

Innovation Solution

The system employs a composite control channel structure with multiple control channel elements, each containing radio resource assignment information, where remote units determine the number of elements and combine them using type indicators and CRC verification to efficiently allocate resources and decode information, allowing for dynamic adjustment of resource allocation based on user-specific channel conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a composite control channel with multiple control channel elements is used to accommodate varying user needs, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but channel decoding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidchannel decoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel is segmented into multiple control channel elements (CCEs), where each CCE can be independently allocated to different users based on their specific needs. This segmentation allows flexible resource allocation while managing decoding complexity by enabling selective processing of only relevant CCEs for each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different control channel elements can be assigned different properties such as aggregation levels (1, 2, 4, or 8 CCEs) based on local user requirements. Users with poor channel conditions receive higher aggregation levels for robustness, while users with good conditions receive lower levels for efficiency, optimizing resource allocation locally for each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If control information is transmitted over the first few symbols of the downlink frame, then control channel capacity is improved, but available data transmission resources are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel capacityVSAvoiddata transmission capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of control channel symbols and their positioning based on traffic conditions and user requirements. When control information volume is high, more symbols are allocated to control channels; when data transmission needs are high, fewer control symbols are used, allowing flexible trade-off between control capacity and data throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If channel quality information is used to determine transmission format for worst-case subscribers, then communication reliability is improved, but transmission efficiency for good-channel subscribers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different transmission formats and aggregation levels to different users based on their local channel conditions. Users with poor channel conditions receive more robust transmissions with higher aggregation levels, while users with good conditions receive more efficient transmissions with lower aggregation levels, optimizing both reliability and efficiency locally for each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2328373B1Radio resource assignment in control channel in wireless communication systems
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
  • EP2328373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2328373B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2328373B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method in a wireless communication device (103, 110) comprises attempting to decode a single control channel element received at the wireless communication device, determining whether the attempted decoding of the single control channel element is successful and attempting to decode combined control channel elements if the attempt to decode the single control channel element is not successful. A method in a wireless communication device (103, 110) is also disclosed which includes attempting to decode combined control channel elements received at the wireless communication device, determining whether the attempted decoding of the combined control channel elements is successful, and attempting to decode a single control channel element if the attempt to decode the combined control channel elements is not successful