Dynamic Aggregation Level Determination for Downlink Control Channels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, the existing LTE design restricts downlink control channel transmission to PRB pairs with the same number of resource elements, leading to ambiguity in supported sizes of candidate control channel signals when PRB pairs have different available resources, affecting code rate and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting downlink control channels within a set of PRB pairs with varying resource elements, where the radio network node allocates PRB pairs and determines supported aggregation levels based on available resources, discarding positions with excessive code rates for higher aggregation levels to ensure efficient multiplexing and decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If PRB pairs with different numbers of resource elements are used for downlink control channel transmission, then spectral utilization and resource efficiency are improved, but ambiguity in supported sizes of candidate control channel signals arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of aggregation level determination from fixed to dynamic. The network node determines the set of supported aggregation levels based on the actual number of resource elements available in each PRB pair, allowing adaptation to varying resource conditions while maintaining unambiguous control channel transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static aggregation level configuration to dynamic determination. The set of supported aggregation levels is determined adaptively based on the specific resource element availability in allocated PRB pairs, enabling the system to respond to changing resource conditions without creating ambiguity
2Reliability
If PRB pairs with the same number of resource elements are used for downlink control channel transmission, then unambiguous aggregation level determination is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the determination criterion from fixed resource element counts to dynamic assessment of available resources. By determining supported aggregation levels based on actual resource element availability in each PRB pair, the system maintains reliability through systematic determination while improving resource utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the downlink frequency carrier into multiple PRB pairs that can be independently allocated and assessed. Each PRB pair's resource element availability is evaluated separately, allowing flexible combination of PRB pairs with different resource characteristics while maintaining overall system reliability
3Reliability
If positions with excessive code rates are discarded for higher aggregation levels, then transmission reliability is improved, but the number of available transmission positions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the code rate threshold from a fixed constraint to a dynamic parameter. The threshold is determined based on the specific aggregation level and resource availability, allowing positions to be retained or discarded adaptively. This maintains reliability by applying appropriate thresholds while preserving more transmission positions than fixed constraints would allow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods(300, 500) and nodes (110, 120) for transmission of downlink control channel signals in a downlink frequency carrier of a wireless communication system (100), wherein at least two PRB pairs, configurable for the transmission of a downlink control channel have different numbers of time-frequency resource elements available for the transmission of said downlink control channel. The method (300) comprises allocating (301) at least one set (S) of PRB pairs; arranging (302) time-frequency resource elements from said set (S) into an aggregation comprising at least one level; determining (303) a set (LS) of aggregation levels supported for the transmission of a downlink control channel within the allocated (301) set of PRB pairs, based on the number of time-frequency resource elements available for the transmission of a downlink control channel in PRB pairs of the set (S); and transmitting (304) the downlink control channel within said set (S) of PRB pairs.