DCI Transmission on PDSCH Without MAC Header
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G wireless communication systems face limitations in the coverage and throughput of downlink control information (DCI) due to its transmission via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), which uses wide broadcast beams and includes a media access control (MAC) header, leading to bottlenecks in millimeter-wave communications.
Innovation Solution
Transmitting DCI via a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) without a MAC header, using a narrower communication beam and incorporating it as a compact downlink command within a MAC control element, thereby increasing coverage and reducing overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If DCI is transmitted via PDCCH using wide broadcast beams, then coverage area is expanded, but beam gain is insufficient for UEs at coverage edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DCI transmission into two parts: (1) a scheduling indication transmitted via PDCCH with wide broadcast beams to cover large area, and (2) the actual DCI payload transmitted via PDSCH with narrow directional beams to provide high gain. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different transmission methods to different functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the PDCCH acts as a mediator that schedules and indicates the transmission of DCI via PDSCH. The PDCCH provides the scheduling indication while the PDSCH carries the actual DCI payload, allowing the system to benefit from both wide coverage and high beam gain.
2Reliability
If DCI is included as a payload of a transport block transmitted via PDSCH, then beam gain is increased through narrower beams, but throughput decreases due to MAC header overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DCI payload from the traditional MAC header structure and transmits it as a separate indication via PDCCH, while the actual data payload is transmitted via PDSCH. This extraction eliminates the redundant MAC header overhead that would otherwise be required to encapsulate DCI within a MAC CE, thereby improving throughput while maintaining the benefits of narrow beam transmission.
3Reliability
If DCI is transmitted via PDCCH, then control information is delivered reliably, but millimeter-wave communication bottlenecks occur due to limited capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control information delivery function with the data transmission function by transmitting DCI via PDSCH alongside user data. This combining allows the system to utilize the high-capacity PDSCH resources for control information, thereby relieving the bottleneck on the PDCCH and improving overall millimeter-wave throughput while maintaining reliable control delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for wireless communication. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving, from a network entity, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) that includes downlink control information (DCI) and that does not include any media access control (MAC) header. The method further includes processing the DCI based on the PDSCH not including any MAC header. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.