Downlink Assignment Index for Multi-Component Carrier HARQ Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently providing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for multiple physical downlink shared channels (PDSCH) scheduled via multi-component carriers, particularly in 5G systems, which affects reliability and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Configuring user equipment (UE) to receive and process downlink control information (DCI) messages for multiple PDSCH across different component carriers, generating and transmitting HARQ feedback bits to base stations, while optimizing resource allocation and minimizing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the UE monitors control channel occasions to receive multiple DCI messages scheduling multiple PDSCH over different component carriers, then the system achieves improved coverage and flexibility for multi-component carrier scheduling, but the device complexity and power consumption increase due to the need to process multiple downlink assignments and generate HARQ feedback for each
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the HARQ feedback generation process by introducing a downlink assignment index (DAI) that uniquely identifies each downlink assignment within a group. This allows the UE to process multiple PDSCH receptions separately and organize feedback bits systematically, reducing the complexity of managing HARQ feedback for multiple component carriers while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the base station include a DAI in each DCI message before the UE needs to generate HARQ feedback. This pre-provided indexing information allows the UE to prepare and organize feedback bits in advance according to the DAI values, simplifying the feedback generation process and reducing processing complexity at the time of feedback transmission.
2Reliability
If the UE generates HARQ feedback bits for each downlink assignment index with a same number of feedback bits per DAI, then the system achieves improved reliability through systematic HARQ feedback, but the signaling overhead increases due to the need to transmit comprehensive feedback for all monitored PDSCH
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by having the UE generate feedback bits that follow a standardized pattern based on the DAI values. Each DAI corresponds to a specific number of feedback bits, creating a reproducible feedback structure. This systematic approach ensures reliable feedback transmission while optimizing the amount of signaling required, as the feedback format is predictable and can be efficiently encoded.
3Productivity
If the system supports HARQ feedback for multiple PDSCH scheduled via multi-component carrier, then the productivity and system efficiency improve, but the power consumption of the UE increases due to continuous monitoring and processing of multiple control channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE sends HARQ acknowledgments based on the DAI values received in DCI messages. This structured feedback approach allows the system to efficiently manage multiple component carriers by providing targeted acknowledgments only for assigned PDSCH, improving productivity while optimizing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary processing of unassigned channels.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may provide hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for multiple physical channels (e.g., multiple physical downlink shared channels (PDSCH)) scheduled via multi-component carrier. The UE may monitor control channel occasions (e.g., physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) occasions), to receive wireless communications from a base station (e.g., a next-generation NodeBs (gNB)). For example, the UE may receive multiple downlink control information (DCI) messages that may schedule multiple PDSCH over different component carriers. The UE may identify one or multiple downlink assignment indices (DAI) in the received DCI messages. In some examples, the UE may generate one or more feedback bits of a HARQ feedback codebook (also referred to as an acknowledgement codebook). The one or more feedback bits include a same number of feedback bits for each downlink assignment index associated with each DCI message.