Dynamic Control Resource Set Reuse for 5G Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 4G LTE and 5G NR systems, the control channel occupies the entire bandwidth, leading to inefficient frequency resource usage, increased costs for user equipment (UE), and high signaling overheads due to the need for beamforming to combat path loss in high-frequency bands, which limits the ability to dynamically reuse control and data resources.
Innovation Solution
A data communication method where the Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH) and data are sent in a resource set corresponding to a control area, allowing for dynamic reuse of control and data channels, reducing signaling overheads by using idle resources within the control resource set for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control channel occupies the entire bandwidth in frequency domain, then all UEs can receive control signaling, but frequency resource utilization efficiency deteriorates and data transmission capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control channel resources into multiple control resource sets (CRSets) that are segmented in the frequency domain. Each CRSet occupies a specific frequency range rather than the entire bandwidth, allowing different UEs to be assigned to different frequency segments for control channel reception. This segmentation enables simultaneous control channel transmission to multiple UEs in different frequency regions, improving overall system capacity while maintaining reliable control signaling delivery to each UE.
2Reliability
If the PCFICH is transmitted using fixed resources in the entire system bandwidth, then all UEs can receive the PCFICH, but UE implementation complexity increases and UE costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning each UE to receive the PCFICH from a specific control resource set located in a particular frequency range, rather than requiring the UE to monitor the entire system bandwidth. The UE's operating bandwidth is matched to the frequency location of its assigned CRSet, allowing the UE to focus its reception efforts on a localized frequency region. This reduces the UE's implementation complexity and cost while ensuring reliable PCFICH reception.
3Reliability
If the control resource in frequency domain cannot be reused for data transmission, then control signaling can be transmitted reliably, but radio resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where control resource sets can be flexibly configured and reassigned based on traffic conditions. The same frequency resources that are used for control channels in some time periods can be dynamically reused for data transmission in other time periods when control traffic is light. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt resource usage to actual needs, improving radio resource utilization efficiency while maintaining reliable control signaling transmission when required.
4Reliability
If beamforming is used to combat path loss in high-frequency bands, then signal propagation performance improves, but signaling overheads increase due to the need to replicate PCFICHs in multiple beams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the control resource sets universal by configuring them in the frequency domain in a manner that can serve multiple UEs simultaneously within the same beam, rather than requiring separate PCFICH replications for each UE or beam. By organizing control resources into frequency-domain CRSets that align with UE operating bandwidths, the system can efficiently serve multiple users with a single control channel transmission, reducing the need for excessive beamforming and PCFICH replication while maintaining signal propagation performance in high-frequency bands.
Data Source
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AI summary
A data communication method, an apparatus, and a system are provided. The method includes: sending, by a sending apparatus, a first group of one or more control resource sets to a receiving apparatus; sending, by the sending apparatus, first signaling to the receiving apparatus, where the first signaling is used to instruct the receiving apparatus to receive data on a time-frequency resource for data transmission. Based on the foregoing method, signaling overheads are reduced, and a control channel and data are dynamically reused in a control resource set.