DCI Field Repurposing for SCell Dormancy Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks lack an effective method to explicitly indicate secondary cell (SCell) dormancy using downlink control information (DCI), particularly in DCI formats that do not have a specific field for this purpose.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves repurposing existing DCI fields, such as those indicating modulation and coding schemes, new data indicators, redundancy versions, and hybrid automatic repeat request process numbers, to implicitly indicate SCell dormancy when DCI format 1_3 is used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If DCI format 1_3 is used for scheduling, then multi-cell scheduling capability is improved, but the ability to explicitly indicate SCell dormancy deteriorates due to lack of dedicated field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling existing DCI fields (such as MCS, NDI, RV, HPN fields) to serve dual purposes: their original scheduling functions plus the additional function of indicating SCell dormancy status. This allows the DCI format 1_3 to simultaneously provide multi-cell scheduling capability and explicit SCell dormancy indication without requiring separate dedicated fields.
2Loss of information
If existing DCI fields are repurposed to indicate SCell dormancy, then SCell dormancy indication capability is improved, but DCI field interpretation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the interpretation parameters of existing DCI fields based on the DCI format type. When DCI format 1_3 is detected, the UE interprets specific fields (MCS, NDI, RV, HPN) as SCell dormancy indicators rather than their traditional meanings. This parameter change approach allows the same physical fields to convey different information depending on the context, enabling SCell dormancy indication without adding physical overhead while requiring context-dependent interpretation logic.
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques described herein may include solutions for using downlink control information (DCI) to indicate dormancy for secondary cells (SCells). For DCI without a specific field for indicating dormancy for SCells, one or more fields of the DCI may be repurposed to report SCell dormancy. Repurposed fields may be arranged according to radio resource control (RRC) configuration information, a most significant bit (MSB), a least significant bit (LSB), and/or one or more bits being directed to specific SCell dormancy with one or more other bits being directed to SCell group dormancy, subsets of SCells, and/or a pre-defined rule. These and many other features and examples are described herein.