Control Channel Resource Segmentation for Low-Bandwidth Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Terminals with low bandwidth capability face challenges in ensuring data receiving/sending performance due to limited bandwidth, leading to issues with power consumption and cost sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

The method involves extending and optimizing the physical resource allocation for control information by dividing it into subsets with specific numbering patterns, allowing terminals with low bandwidth to support higher aggregation levels for improved control information reception and transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If terminals use low bandwidth capability to reduce power consumption and costs, then power consumption and costs are reduced, but data receiving/sending performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata receiving/sending performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control resource set is segmented into multiple subsets with different time-domain durations (first subset with ≤3 symbols, second subset with >3 symbols). This segmentation allows terminals to selectively use appropriate subsets based on their bandwidth capability, enabling low-bandwidth terminals to achieve better performance without increasing overall power consumption significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by configuring different control resource set subsets with varying time-domain characteristics. Terminals can dynamically select which subset to use based on their specific bandwidth capability, creating a dynamic optimization mechanism that balances performance and power consumption for different terminal types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If terminals use low bandwidth capability to reduce power consumption and costs, then power consumption and costs are reduced, but reliability of control information reception deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcontrol information reception reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing control resource sets into multiple subsets with different time-domain durations, the patent enables low-bandwidth terminals to access the second subset (>3 symbols) which provides enhanced reliability for control information reception, while high-bandwidth terminals can use the first subset (≤3 symbols) for lower power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the time-domain parameter (number of symbols) of control resource sets to create different subsets. This parameter variation allows terminals with different bandwidth capabilities to select appropriate subsets, with low-bandwidth terminals able to achieve improved reliability through the extended time duration of the second subset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If control resource set uses more symbols in time domain, then coverage and reliability of control information improve, but resource waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information transmission reliabilityVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control resource set is segmented into multiple subsets with different time-domain durations. The first subset (≤3 symbols) is optimized for bandwidth-efficient transmission with lower resource consumption, while the second subset (>3 symbols) provides enhanced reliability for terminals that need it. This segmentation prevents resource waste by allowing terminals to use the appropriate subset size for their specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different subsets are assigned different time-domain qualities (duration characteristics) to match different terminal requirements. Low-bandwidth terminals can access the extended-duration second subset for improved reliability, while high-bandwidth terminals use the compact first subset, ensuring that resources are allocated with appropriate quality characteristics locally optimized for each terminal type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3996440B1Control channel transmission method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3996440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3996440B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4B
  • EP3996440B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and an apparatus. In the method, a physical resource that carries control information of a terminal with a low bandwidth capability is extended, and the physical resource is properly divided, so that control information receiving/sending performance of the terminal with a low bandwidth capability can be improved, and therefore data receiving/sending performance of the terminal with a low bandwidth capability can be improved.