Control Channel Search Space Determination for LTE Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current LTE system faces limitations in control channel capacity due to the introduction of technologies like MIMO and CoMP, which affect the efficiency and flexibility of scheduling, particularly in receiving and sending control channels.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a search space for the control channel based on time-frequency resource information and configuration information, allowing for expanded capacity and improved scheduling efficiency by optimizing the mapping of control channels across resource blocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MIMO and CoMP technologies are introduced to improve system capacity and performance, then the control channel capacity is limited, but scheduling efficiency and flexibility are improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol channel capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the control channel search from traditional time-frequency resources to include spatial dimensions by introducing search space sets associated with different antenna ports and precing matrices. This multi-dimensional approach allows the UE to search for PDCCH across multiple spatial layers, effectively increasing control channel capacity without compromising scheduling efficiency enabled by MIMO and CoMP technologies

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the control channel search space into multiple search space sets, where each set is associated with specific antenna ports and precoding matrices. This segmentation allows the system to distribute control channel transmissions across different spatial resources, thereby increasing overall control channel capacity while maintaining the scheduling flexibility provided by MIMO and CoMP

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If control channel is carried in first n symbols of subframe in time division manner, then PDCCH and PDSCH mapping is simplified, but control channel capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemapping complexityVSAvoidcontrol channel capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces spatial dimension to control channel mapping by associating search space sets with different antenna ports and precoding matrices. This allows control channels to be transmitted in the same time-frequency resources across multiple spatial layers, increasing control channel capacity without complicating the time-frequency mapping between PDCCH and PDSCH

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges control channel transmissions across multiple antenna ports and precoding matrices within the same subframe. By combining spatial resources, the system increases control channel capacity while maintaining the simple time-division multiplexing structure between PDCCH and PDSCH

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If E-PDCCH with UE-specific reference signal is introduced to increase control channel capacity, then control channel capacity is improved, but receiving and sending processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel capacityVSAvoidreceiving and sending processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the E-PDCCH reception process into multiple search space sets, each associated with specific antenna ports and precoding matrices. This segmentation allows the UE to systematically search through organized spatial groups, reducing processing complexity compared to searching all possible configurations simultaneously, while still achieving increased control channel capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3637666B1Method for receiving and sending control channel, user equipment and base station
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3637666B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3637666B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP3637666B1 patent drawingFigure 4B~5

AI summary

The present invention discloses methods for receiving and sending a control channel, a user equipment, and a base station. The method for receiving a control channel includes: obtaining time-frequency resource information and first information of the control channel; determining a search space of the control channel according to the time-frequency resource information and the first information; and receiving the control channel in the search space. By using the methods, the user equipment and the base station according to embodiments of the present invention, the search space of the control channel can be determined according to the time-frequency resource information and the first information of the control channel, so that receiving and sending of the control channel can be implemented and a capacity of the control channel can be expanded, thereby improving system scheduling efficiency and flexibility and further improving user experience.