Downlink Control Information Grant Segmentation for Wireless Resource Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in ambiguity regarding acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) information provided in feedback messages, particularly in hybrid automatic repeat/request (HARQ) codebooks, which can lead to confusion for base stations in determining whether a NACK indication is associated with grant scheduling or data transmission.
Innovation Solution
The described techniques enhance robustness by having a base station transmit a first grant in a control channel to a user equipment (UE), which conveys resources for monitoring additional grants. The UE monitors these resources, receives second grants, and provides feedback messages indicating receipt, allowing the base station to reallocate resources if necessary to avoid waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the base station transmits grants in the control channel only, then the control channel overhead increases and resource utilization decreases, but the ambiguity of ACK/NACK information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments grant transmission into two parts: essential grant information is transmitted in the control channel (PDCCH), while additional grant information is transmitted in the data channel (PDSCH). This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable grant delivery while improving resource utilization by avoiding complete grant repetition in both channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the UE sends ACK/NACK information back to the base station. This intermediary feedback loop allows the base station to confirm successful grant reception and adjust subsequent transmissions, reducing resource waste from failed transmissions while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If the UE monitors both control channel and data channel for grants, then the grant reception reliability improves, but the UE complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the base station transmit essential grant information in the control channel before transmitting additional information in the data channel. The UE first monitors the control channel for grant indications, then selectively monitors data channel resources based on this preliminary information, reducing overall monitoring complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic monitoring where the UE adjusts its monitoring behavior based on received grant information. After receiving a grant indication in the control channel, the UE dynamically activates monitoring of specific data channel resources, rather than continuously monitoring all resources, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliable grant reception.
3Productivity
If the base station reallocates resources based on NACK feedback, then the resource utilization efficiency improves, but the system latency increases due to additional feedback rounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the base station transmit only essential grant information in the control channel and rely on UE feedback for confirmation. Rather than transmitting complete grant information redundantly in both channels (excessive action), the system uses partial transmission with feedback, achieving good resource utilization while accepting minimal latency for the feedback exchange.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive, in a control channel, a first grant identifying a first set of resources of a first data channel on which the UE is to monitor for one or more second grants, the first data channel being downlink. The UE may monitor the first set of resources in the first data channel for the one or more second grants, the one or more second grants identifying a second set of resources of a second data channel on which the UE is to perform data communications. The UE may transmit, based at least in part on the monitoring the first set of resources, a feedback message associated with receipt of the one or more second grants.