5G Downlink Message Demarcation for Reduced Receiver Processing

Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G and 6G networks, detecting downlink control messages is a complex and time-consuming process for user devices, which can lead to increased computational demands and power consumption, especially for low-cost processors in devices like microcontrollers, due to the need for blind searches across various message possibilities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a low-complexity protocol that uses predetermined start and end demarcations, such as specific sequences of bits, to indicate the beginning and end of downlink messages, reducing the computational burden on user devices and allowing them to recognize intended messages without extensive searching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blind search across many candidate message possibilities is performed to detect downlink control messages, then message detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage detection reliabilityVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The downlink control information is segmented into multiple fields including a first field indicating a starting resource, a second field indicating an ending resource, and a third field indicating message type. This segmentation allows the user device to process each field separately and efficiently, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining detection reliability through structured parsing rather than blind searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary actions by transmitting demarcation bits at the beginning and end of downlink control information, and by pre-configuring the message structure with identifiable fields. This preliminary structuring enables the user device to quickly identify and locate relevant messages without performing complex blind searches, thereby reducing computational burden while maintaining reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If blind search across many candidate message possibilities is performed to detect downlink control messages, then message detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage detection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The downlink control information is segmented into multiple fields including a first field indicating a starting resource, a second field indicating an ending resource, and a third field indicating message type. This segmentation allows the user device to process each field separately and efficiently, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining detection reliability through structured parsing rather than blind searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary actions by transmitting demarcation bits at the beginning and end of downlink control information, and by pre-configuring the message structure with identifiable fields. This preliminary structuring enables the user device to quickly identify and locate relevant messages without performing complex blind searches, thereby reducing computational burden while maintaining reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If demarcation bits are transmitted at the beginning and end of downlink control information, then message recognition speed is improved, but transmission time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage recognition speedVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The demarcation bits are placed at specific local positions (beginning and end) of the downlink control information rather than throughout the entire message. This localized placement provides clear message boundaries and identification markers that enable fast recognition without requiring additional time for processing the entire message structure, thus improving recognition speed with minimal impact on transmission time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11546111B2Demarking the start and end of 5G/6G downlink messages

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 NEWMAN DAVID E

AI summary

Disclosed are methods for base stations to indicate the start and end of a downlink message, by prepending and appending demarcations to the message in 5G or 6G. A user device can then readily locate the message by detecting the demarcations, greatly reducing the amount of computation required of the receiver processor. There may be no need for a DCI message alerting the user device of the coming message. Each demarcation may be a brief predetermined bit sequence such as a demodulation reference or an identification code of the intended recipient. The start and end demarcations may be different, and may include a gap of zero or low transmission, to further assist the receiver. The user device may transmit a request message to the base station, requesting that demarcations be applied to the user's downlink messages, and declining the redundant DCI alert messages, thereby saving further energy and network overhead.