Downlink Control Information Transmission Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication systems, the high frequency and reliability requirements for Downlink Control Information (DCI) transmission lead to significant overhead, particularly for URLLC and mMTC traffic, which results in reduced system performance due to the large load generated by transmitting DCI for small data packets.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting downlink control information less frequently by indicating a subset of candidate resource sets to terminal devices, allowing them to perform blind detection, thereby reducing the overhead and improving control channel reliability through joint encoding/decoding across multiple subframes and cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DCI transmission is performed with high frequency and reliability requirements, then control channel reliability is improved, but transmission overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control resource sets into multiple candidate sets and indicates only a subset of these sets to terminal devices. This segmentation reduces the number of DCI transmissions needed while maintaining reliability, as terminals can perform blind detection across the segmented resource sets. The control resources are divided into first and second resource sets with different indication methods, optimizing the balance between overhead and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by indicating only a subset of candidate resource sets to terminals rather than all possible sets. The network device configures multiple candidate control resource sets but only indicates a portion of them, reducing DCI overhead while terminals perform blind detection on the indicated subset. This partial indication strategy maintains sufficient reliability without the excessive overhead of indicating all candidate sets.
2Measurement precision
If DCI is transmitted frequently to ensure reliable data reception, then detection accuracy is improved, but system load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control resources into multiple candidate sets and uses different indication strategies for different sets. First resource sets are indicated via DCI while second resource sets are configured through higher layer signaling. This segmentation allows the system to maintain detection accuracy through blind detection across segmented resources while reducing overall system load by avoiding redundant DCI transmissions for all resource sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the periodic indication of control resource set subsets. The network device periodically updates the indicated subset of candidate resource sets to terminals, allowing terminals to perform blind detection at regular intervals. This periodic update mechanism maintains detection accuracy while optimizing system load by not requiring continuous DCI transmissions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all candidate resource sets are indicated to terminals, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but control signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete set of candidate control resource sets into multiple groups and indicates only relevant subsets to terminals based on current transmission needs. This segmentation maintains resource allocation flexibility because the network can dynamically select which subsets to indicate, while simultaneously reducing control signaling overhead by not indicating all possible resource sets. The first and second resource sets are managed differently to optimize this balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different indication methods for different resource set subsets. First resource sets receive dynamic DCI indication while second resource sets use semi-static higher layer configuration. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain overall resource allocation flexibility while reducing overhead in specific areas where full flexibility is not required, optimizing the trade-off between adaptability and signaling overhead.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to transmission of downlink control channel. A network device determines downlink control information associated with a resource region allocated to one or more terminal devices. The downlink control information includes a plurality of candidate resource sets for data transmission to the terminal devices. The network device transmits the downlink control information to the terminal devices to enable the terminal devices to perform blind detection of data transmitted on the resource region based on the downlink control information.