Cross-Carrier Beam Indication Timing for TCI State Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing beamforming and scheduling across multiple carriers, particularly in 5G/NR systems, which affect data transmission efficiency and coverage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a timing control mechanism for cross carrier beam indication using a user equipment (UE) and base station (BS) that includes a transceiver and processor to manage TCI state code points for quasi-co-location and spatial properties, enabling efficient transmission and reception of downlink and uplink channels based on configured TCI state code points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cross carrier scheduling is implemented to improve resource allocation efficiency, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple TCI state configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the TCI state code point indication mechanism applicable across multiple carriers through cross-carrier scheduling. A single indication mechanism in DCI format can indicate TCI state code points for multiple carriers, allowing the same procedure to serve multiple carriers and reducing per-carrier configuration complexity while maintaining multi-carrier operation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by introducing TCI state code points as an intermediate layer between full TCI state configurations and actual beam indications. Instead of directly configuring and indicating complete TCI states for each carrier, the system uses compact code points that reference pre-configured TCI states, reducing the signaling overhead and complexity while enabling efficient cross-carrier beam management.
2Measurement precision
If multiple TCI states are configured for multiple carriers to improve beamforming accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but information overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential beam indication information into compact TCI state code points, separating the frequently updated indication information from the relatively static TCI state configurations. The DCI format contains only the necessary code point indications rather than full TCI state parameters, reducing signaling overhead while preserving the precision needed for accurate beamforming control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states and their corresponding code points through higher layer signaling before actual beam indication is needed. This preliminary configuration phase establishes the mapping between code points and TCI states, allowing subsequent fast beam switching through simple code point indications in DCI without repeated transmission of full TCI state information.
3Speed
If fast beam switching is implemented to improve response time, then speed is improved, but reliability decreases due to timing synchronization challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the timing relationship between DCI reception and TCI state application through the K0, K1, K2 parameters. These timing offsets are configured in advance, allowing the UE to know exactly when to apply indicated TCI states without complex real-time timing calculations, thus enabling fast beam switching while maintaining synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through HARQ-ACK timing relationships that confirm successful reception and application of beam indications. The timing feedback loop allows the system to verify that fast beam switching operations were successfully executed, maintaining reliability even as switching speed increases through precise timing control.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for timing control for a cross carrier beam indication in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving configuration information for a list of transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states; receiving a configuration information for a list of TCI state code points; receiving configuration information for cross carrier scheduling; and receiving a downlink control information (DCI) format including (i) a carrier indicator field associated with the configuration information for cross carrier scheduling and (ii) a transmission configuration indication field indicating a TCI state code point from the list of TCI state code points. The method further includes applying the indicated TCI state code point to a carrier indicated by the carrier indicator field and receiving or transmitting downlink (DL) channels or uplink (UL) channels, respectively, based on the quasi-co-location properties or spatial properties corresponding to the indicated TCI state code point.