DCI Format Reuse for Aperiodic SRS Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR systems face limitations in scheduling flexibility for sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions due to their reliance on downlink control information (DCI) formats that schedule downlink or uplink data transmissions, restricting the parameters available for SRS scheduling.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves reusing DCI fields for SRS transmission by interpreting specific fields in DCI formats 0_1 and 0_2 to dynamically indicate frequency domain and time domain resource allocations, allowing for aperiodic SRS transmissions without scheduling PUSCH or CSI requests, and enabling BWP switching and cross-carrier SRS transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SRS transmissions are scheduled by DCI formats that schedule downlink or uplink data transmissions, then SRS transmissions can be controlled through existing DCI mechanisms, but the parameters for SRS transmissions are limited and scheduling flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling DCI formats to serve dual purposes: traditional data transmission scheduling and SRS transmission scheduling. By reusing existing DCI format structures and fields for SRS triggering without requiring separate dedicated DCI formats, the system achieves versatile scheduling capability while avoiding additional format complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically reinterpreting specific DCI fields based on a triggering condition. When the triggering condition is met, certain DCI fields are repurposed to carry SRS-specific parameters such as frequency domain resource allocation, time domain resource allocation, and SRS resource indicator, thereby achieving flexible SRS scheduling using existing DCI infrastructure
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated DCI formats are created for SRS transmissions, then SRS scheduling flexibility improves, but DCI format complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent avoids creating dedicated DCI formats by making existing DCI formats multi-functional. The same DCI format structures used for data scheduling are reused for SRS triggering, eliminating the need for separate SRS-specific DCI formats while maintaining scheduling flexibility through conditional field interpretation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the existing DCI format system to serve SRS scheduling needs independently without requiring additional signaling infrastructure. By configuring triggering conditions and reusing existing DCI fields, the system achieves self-service capability for SRS scheduling, avoiding the complexity of dedicated DCI formats
3Productivity
If existing DCI fields are reused for SRS transmission, then overhead is reduced and efficiency improves, but the ability to handle diverse SRS configurations may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by dynamically changing the interpretation of DCI fields based on triggering conditions. The same physical fields carry different logical meanings depending on whether the triggering condition is met, enabling both efficient reuse of existing fields and support for diverse SRS configurations through conditional parameter reassignment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making DCI field interpretation context-dependent rather than static. The triggering condition acts as a dynamic switch that determines whether certain fields are interpreted as data scheduling parameters or SRS parameters, thereby achieving both efficiency through field reuse and versatility through adaptive interpretation
Data Source
AI summary
Bandwidth part (BWP) switching for aperiodic sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions is triggered via a downlink control information (DCI) format that does not include scheduling information. When a DCI format does not schedule a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and does not include a channel state information (CSI) request, the UE may interpret one or more fields of the DCI format for the aperiodic SRS transmission.