Differential Coding for 5G Contention-Based Uplink Payloads

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G and New Radio communication systems, one-shot/contention-based uplink payload transmission experiences high collision probability due to reference signal collisions, leading to inaccurate channel estimation and degraded demodulation performance, which existing techniques attempt to address with increased overhead or receiver complexity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing differential coding techniques on the transmitter-side for contention-based uplink PUSCH and PUCCH transmissions, using bit-level, symbol-level, or subcarrier-level operations, and combining with spreading or higher-order modulations to reduce collision probability and improve decoding performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reference signal spreading techniques are used to increase pool size, then collision probability is reduced, but RS overhead and channel estimation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision probabilityVSAvoidreceiver complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of reference signal spreading with a signal processing approach using differential coding. Instead of increasing the number of reference signals through spreading, the invention applies differential encoding to the payload data, which allows the receiver to estimate the channel using fewer reference signals while still achieving reliable collision-free transmission. This substitution reduces the overhead and complexity associated with reference signal spreading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If differential coding is applied at symbol level, then decoding performance is improved, but implementation complexity increases compared to bit-level coding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding performanceVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies differential coding at the symbol level rather than bit level, which changes the parameter of coding granularity. Symbol-level differential coding operates on modulated symbols directly, providing better performance in contention-based scenarios by exploiting the statistical properties of symbol transitions. This parameter change from bit-level to symbol-level coding improves decoding performance while the differential nature keeps the implementation relatively simple compared to full forward error correction schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3909367B1Contention-based payload transmissions using differential coding
Publication Date: 2025.03.19 ZTE CORP
  • EP3909367B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3909367B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3909367B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for contention- based transmissions using differential coding techniques in mobile communication technology are described. An exemplary method for wireless communication includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a payload that comprises an identity of the wireless device and at least one of a user plane data or a control plane data, where the payload is modulated using a differential coding technique. Another exemplary method for wireless communication includes receiving, by a network node, a payload that comprises an identity of the wireless device and at least one of a user plane data or a control plane data, where the payload is modulated using a differential coding technique.