Cross-Cell Uplink Beam Switching Through DCI Codepoint Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In future radio communication systems, the dynamic switching of uplink beams for user equipment (UE) is not adequately addressed, leading to potential deterioration of communication quality.
Innovation Solution
A terminal and base station are designed to determine the spatial relation or TCI state for uplink channels based on downlink control information, using a TCI state list or spatial relation list configured for each cell, allowing dynamic and flexible switching of uplink beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic beam switching for uplink transmission is implemented, then communication flexibility and adaptability are improved, but communication quality deteriorates due to lack of proper notification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station provides spatial relation information or TCI state indications through downlink control information to the terminal. This feedback loop ensures that when beam switching occurs, the terminal receives appropriate notification and adjusts its uplink transmission accordingly, maintaining communication quality while enabling dynamic beam flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent configures the terminal with multiple TCI states and spatial relation information in advance through higher layer signaling. This preliminary configuration allows the terminal to have ready-to-use beam parameters when beam switching is needed, enabling fast and reliable beam changes without deteriorating communication quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If TCI state or spatial relation information is dynamically indicated for uplink channels, then beam switching capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the downlink control information structure universal by enabling it to serve multiple purposes: scheduling downlink shared channels and simultaneously indicating TCI states or spatial relation information for uplink channels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate signaling mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving dynamic beam indication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the beam indication function with the existing downlink control information scheduling structure. By combining TCI state/spatial relation indication with the downlink shared channel scheduling DCI, the patent reduces signaling overhead and avoids adding separate complex beam control mechanisms, thus limiting system complexity growth.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cross-carrier scheduling is applied with different cells, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but determination of spatial relation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces TCI state information and spatial relation information as intermediary elements that bridge the scheduling decision and the actual beam configuration. These intermediaries carry the necessary spatial relationship data from the scheduling DCI to the terminal's beam selection mechanism, enabling accurate spatial relation determination even in cross-carrier scheduling scenarios with different cells.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a receiving section that receives downlink control information and a downlink shared channel scheduled by the downlink control information on a cell different from a cell for the downlink control information, and a control section that determines, on the basis of at least one of a TCI state (Transmission Configuration Indication state) list or spatial relation list configured for each cell and information notified by the downlink control information, a spatial relation or TCI state applied to an uplink channel corresponding to the downlink control information.