DCI Format Size Differentiation for LTE Blind Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE systems, terminals face difficulties in correctly detecting Downlink Control Information (DCI) formats during blind detection, leading to incorrect uplink or downlink control transmission methods, which affects data decoding and transmission.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that determine the size of DCI formats and compare them to differentiate between DCI formats under the current transmission configuration, appending bits as necessary to ensure unique sizes, allowing for correct detection with minimal overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple DCI formats are used for different transmission modes, then the system supports diverse uplink and downlink transmission methods, but the terminal cannot correctly distinguish between DCI formats with the same size during blind detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission mode diversityVSAvoidDCI format detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the size parameter of DCI format 4 by appending a dummy bit when conflict detection is needed. This parameter change makes the DCI format size unique, allowing the terminal to correctly distinguish it from other DCI formats during blind detection, thereby resolving the detection accuracy problem while maintaining transmission mode diversity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If DCI format sizes are made unique to enable correct detection, then detection accuracy improves, but the overhead increases due to appending dummy bits

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDCI format detection accuracyVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by appending a dummy bit only when necessary - specifically when DCI format 4 size conflicts with other DCI formats under the current transmission configuration. This conditional approach ensures detection accuracy is improved only when needed, minimizing unnecessary overhead while maintaining the ability to support diverse transmission modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If the terminal performs blind detection without size differentiation, then the detection process is simple, but the terminal cannot determine the correct DCI format when multiple formats have the same size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection process simplicityVSAvoidDCI format identification reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the size parameter of DCI format 4 by appending a dummy bit when size conflicts occur. This creates a unique size signature that the terminal can use during blind detection to reliably identify DCI format 4, thereby improving identification reliability while maintaining the simplicity of the blind detection process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3179752B1Method and device for transmitting and receiving control signaling
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3179752B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3179752B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3179752B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a method and a device for transmitting and receiving control signaling. The method includes: determining an original size of a DCI format which is in a first group and is the format of DCI to be transmitted; determining, according to a current transmission configuration, a second group of DCI formats that can be used under the current transmission configuration; comparing a size of the DCI format in the second group with the original size of the DCI format in the first group, and if the second group includes a DCI format that has a same size as a DCI format in the first group, appending a bit to the DCI format which is in the first group of DCI formats and has the same size as the DCI format in the second group, so that size of the DCI format in the first group after the bit appending is different from that of the DCI format in the second group; and transmitting, according to the DCI format with the appended bit in the first group, the DCI to be transmitted. According to embodiments of the present invention, DCI formats under a current configuration may be easily distinguished with a relative small overhead.