DCI Format 2_0 Slot Format Indication for NR-U
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current NR-U technologies face inefficiencies in slot format indication and configuration, leading to excessive resource usage and complexity due to the need for multiple versions of the same DL/UL structure, especially in NR-U scenarios where channel occupancy time and transmission bursts can vary, resulting in increased configuration overhead and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Introducing additional fields to DCI format 2_0, such as 'current SFI', 'offset', and 'applicability' indicators, to efficiently signal slot format combinations and their validity, allowing flexible concatenation of pre-configured SFIs to support variable timing and ratios of DL/UL splits, and enabling dynamic adjustment of channel occupancy time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of the same DL/UL structure are configured to support variable channel occupancy time and transmission bursts, then adaptability to different NR-U scenarios is improved, but configuration overhead and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic fields in DCI format 2_0 including 'current SFI' indicator, 'offset' indicator, and 'applicability' indicator that allow the slot format indication to adapt dynamically to variable channel occupancy time and transmission bursts without requiring multiple static configuration versions. The current SFI field indicates the applicable SFI combination, the offset field provides timing adjustment, and the applicability field defines the time range of validity, enabling flexible adaptation to different NR-U scenarios through dynamic signaling rather than static multi-version configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the slot format indication system by adding new fields to DCI format 2_0: the current SFI parameter identifies which pre-configured SFI combination to apply, the offset parameter adjusts the timing alignment, and the applicability parameter defines the duration of validity. These parameter changes enable the system to support variable channel occupancy time and transmission bursts by dynamically adjusting the indication parameters rather than creating multiple configuration versions
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of the same DL/UL structure are configured to support variable transmission bursts, then adaptability to different NR-U scenarios is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic indication mechanisms where the current SFI field, offset field, and applicability field in DCI format 2_0 work together to flexibly indicate slot format combinations adapted to variable transmission bursts. This dynamic approach allows the network to signal the appropriate configuration version and its validity period on-demand, avoiding the need to maintain and transmit multiple complete configuration versions, thereby reducing network resource consumption while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces parameter changes by adding current SFI, offset, and applicability indicators to DCI format 2-0. These parameters enable the network to efficiently indicate which pre-configured slot format combination applies, with what timing offset, and for how long, allowing adaptation to variable transmission bursts without consuming excessive network resources for maintaining multiple configuration versions
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple versions of the same DL/UL structure are configured to support variable timing, then adaptability to different NR-U scenarios is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timing adaptation through the offset indicator and applicability indicator fields in DCI format 2-0. The offset field allows flexible timing alignment of the slot format indication with variable transmission bursts, while the applicability field specifies the time range of validity. This dynamic mechanism enables UEs to efficiently determine when to apply which configuration without continuously monitoring multiple configuration versions, reducing processing power consumption while maintaining adaptability to variable timing scenarios
4Device complexity
If additional fields are added to DCI format 2-0 for efficient signaling, then configuration overhead is reduced, but message size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by adding only the necessary fields (current SFI, offset, and applicability indicators) to DCI format 2-0 that are sufficient to enable efficient slot format indication for variable channel occupancy time and transmission bursts. Rather than adding comprehensive configuration data, the patent adds minimal fields that reference pre-configured SFI combinations, achieving configuration overhead reduction with minimal increase in message size
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes transmitting, by a network entity, at least one downlink control signal to a user equipment. The downlink control signal comprises a current slot format indicator and a further indicator. The current slot format indicator indicates at least one slot format combination. The further indicator comprises one or more of:at least one offset, at least one applicability indication, at least one next slot format indicator, and at least one indication of at least one channel occupancy time ending.