Downlink Feedback Information Signaling Through Reused DCI States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interference and congestion in wireless communication networks due to increased demand for mobile broadband access and deployment of more UEs, leading to degraded performance on both downlink and uplink transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Enhancements in downlink feedback information (DFI) signaling through methods such as repurposing unused DCI variable states, adding a separate bit, or defining a new RNTI to indicate DFI presence, allowing efficient transmission and reception of DFI without increasing DCI overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If DFI is transmitted using existing DCI formats without additional signaling, then DCI overhead is maintained, but the UE cannot efficiently identify the presence of DFI without increasing blind decoding complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses changes in DCI variable states (analogous to color changes) to indicate DFI presence. Specific variable states are defined to signal whether DFI is included in the DCI message, allowing the UE to quickly identify DFI presence without additional overhead or increased blind decoding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signaling mechanism using existing DCI variable states to mediate between the base station's DFI transmission and the UE's reception. This intermediary approach allows efficient DFI presence indication by repurposing existing signaling resources rather than adding new overhead.
2Loss of information
If a separate DFI indicator bit is added to DCI messages, then DFI presence can be clearly indicated, but DCI overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality to existing DCI variable states, allowing them to serve both their original purposes and the additional function of indicating DFI presence. This universal approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated indicator bits, thereby avoiding increased DCI overhead while still providing clear DFI presence indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interpretation or state of existing DCI parameters to encode DFI presence information. By modifying how existing variable states are used rather than adding new parameters, the patent achieves DFI indication without increasing the quantity of DCI overhead.
3Reliability
If new DCI formats are created to carry DFI, then DFI can be transmitted reliably, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges DFI transmission with existing DCI formats by defining specific variable states within those formats to indicate DFI presence. This merging approach allows reliable DFI transmission to be achieved without creating separate new DCI formats, thereby avoiding increased device complexity and processing overhead.
4Loss of information
If blind decoding is performed for all possible DCI variations to detect DFI, then DFI can be reliably identified, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses distinct DCI variable states as visual indicators (analogous to color changes) that allow the UE to quickly identify DFI presence without performing exhaustive blind decoding. This approach maintains reliable DFI detection while significantly reducing the processing energy required by enabling the UE to recognize DFI indicators through simple state checking rather than comprehensive decoding.
Data Source
AI summary
Enhancements to downlink feedback information (DFI) signaling is disclosed. According to the disclosed aspects, indications of DFI presence in downlink control information (DCI) messaging are provided that limit any increase to DCI overhead for uplink grants. In a first aspect, DFI presence may be signaled using unused or disallowed DCI variable states for indication of DFI presence. In another aspect, a separate bit may be added to a DCI message for indicating DFI presence. Additional aspects include repurposing DCI fields which are specific to cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI)-based uplink grants, or may defining a new RNTI (e.g., DFI-RNTI) for indicating DFI presence. Further aspects may provide for radio resource control (RRC) signaling that configures which DCI variable state can be used to indicate DFI presence.