Downlink Control Information Multiplexing for Uplink Feedback Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications, especially in LTE systems, the current method for data feedback is inefficient as it requires multiple downlink control information (DCI) messages to acknowledge or reject uplink data from multiple user equipment (UEs), leading to high resource overhead and low feedback efficiency due to the need for each UE to receive separate DCI messages.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method uses a single piece of downlink control information (DCI) to carry feedback for multiple UEs by associating bits with physical resource blocks in a narrowband, allowing the network device to indicate whether uplink data is correctly received or needs to be sent, thereby reducing the need for multiple DCI messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple DCI messages are used to carry feedback for multiple UEs, then each UE can receive separate feedback, but resource overhead increases and feedback efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback delivery reliabilityVSAvoidfeedback resource overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines feedback for multiple UEs into a single DCI message by multiplexing feedback information in the time domain. The base station transmits feedback for multiple UEs sequentially within one DCI, allowing the UE to identify and process feedback for different UEs through time-division. This merging approach reduces the number of separate DCI messages needed while maintaining reliable feedback delivery to each UE.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple DCI messages are sent for multiple UEs, then individual feedback can be provided, but feedback efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback accuracyVSAvoidfeedback efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple feedback operations into a single DCI transmission by using time-division multiplexing. Instead of sending separate DCI messages for each UE, the base station consolidates feedback for multiple UEs into one message, improving feedback efficiency while maintaining accuracy through proper identification of each UE's feedback information within the combined message.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single DCI carries feedback for multiple UEs, then resource overhead is reduced, but the complexity of processing feedback increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback resource overheadVSAvoidfeedback processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback information within the single DCI message by using time-division. Each UE's feedback information is placed in a specific time slot within the DCI, allowing the base station to clearly distinguish and process feedback for different UEs. This segmentation approach reduces resource overhead while managing processing complexity through structured organization of feedback data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If separate DCI messages are used for each UE feedback, then processing is simplified, but system resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidfeedback resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple feedback transmissions into a single DCI message, reducing the total quantity of feedback resources consumed. By consolidating feedback for multiple UEs into one message with time-division multiplexing, the system decreases resource consumption while maintaining processing simplicity through clear temporal separation of feedback information for different UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3614597B1Data feedback method and related device
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3614597B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP3614597B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3
  • EP3614597B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application discloses an uplink data feedback method and a related device. The method includes: receiving uplink data from a terminal device; determining a first bit group of first downlink control information and a first bit in the first bit group, where bits of the first downlink control information constitute at least one bit group, bits included in each bit group of the first downlink control information are associated with one or more physical resource blocks in a narrowband, and the first bit is used to indicate whether the uplink data is correctly received, or to indicate whether new uplink data is sent by the terminal device; and sending the first downlink control information. According to this application, feedback information of a plurality of pieces of uplink data can be carried by using one piece of downlink control information, helping resolve a problem of high overheads of feedback resources for feeding back whether the uplink data is correctly received and low feedback efficiency.