Cross-Carrier Beam Indication Using Shared TCI State Code Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing beamforming and channel coordination across multiple carriers, particularly in 5G/NR systems, which affect data transmission and reception efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of cross carrier beam indication with multiple TCI states, allowing for the configuration and application of TCI state code points across different carriers to align quasi-co-location and spatial properties, enhancing the transmission and reception of downlink and uplink channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cross carrier scheduling is implemented to improve resource allocation flexibility, then carrier coordination efficiency is improved, but beam indication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single TCI state code point to serve multiple carriers simultaneously. The DCI format includes a carrier indicator field that allows one beam indication to be applied across multiple carriers, making the beam indication mechanism multi-functional and reducing the need for separate indications for each carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges beam indication across multiple carriers by combining carrier identification (carrier indicator field) with beam configuration (TCI state code point) into a unified DCI format. This merging allows the system to handle multiple carriers with a single coordinated indication rather than separate indications for each carrier.
2Measurement precision
If multiple TCI states are configured for different carriers, then beamforming precision is improved, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different TCI states to be assigned to different carriers based on their specific beamforming requirements. Each carrier can have its own optimized TCI state configuration while being managed through a unified code point system, enabling localized optimization without overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by introducing a code point system that maps to multiple TCI states. Instead of directly configuring multiple TCI states across carriers, the system changes the parameter representation to use code points that can indicate different TCI state combinations, simplifying the configuration process while maintaining precision.
3Measurement precision
If separate beam indications are used for each carrier, then beam indication accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the beam indication mechanism universal by enabling a single TCI state code point to indicate beams for multiple carriers simultaneously. The carrier indicator field within the DCI format allows the same indication structure to serve multiple carriers, reducing the number of separate signaling messages needed while maintaining accurate beam indication for each carrier.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving configuration information for a list of transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states, a list of TCI state code points, and cross carrier scheduling and receiving a downlink control information (DCI) format including (i) a carrier indicator field and (ii) a transmission configuration indication field indicating a TCI state code point. The TCI state code point is from the list of TCI state code points and indicates a TCI state for a first carrier and a TCI state for a second carrier. The method further includes applying the indicated TCI state code point for a first carrier and a second carrier and receiving or transmitting, on the first carrier and the second carrier, downlink (DL) channels or uplink (UL) channels, respectively, based on quasi-co-location properties or spatial properties corresponding to the indicated TCI state code point.