eMTC-U PUCCH Design for Unlicensed Spectrum Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in designing a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for enhanced machine type communications (eMTC) in shared or unlicensed spectrum, particularly in ensuring compliance with bandwidth and transmit power requirements.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an eMTC-U PUCCH design that allows for the transmission of MTC PUCCH messages over multiple resource blocks (RBs), with a base station selecting a payload size configuration to indicate the amount of data that can be transmitted, thereby extending the bandwidth and data capacity of the MTC PUCCH message.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If MTC PUCCH messages are transmitted in shared or unlicensed spectrum, then compliance with bandwidth and transmit power requirements is achieved, but the bandwidth and data capacity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with bandwidth and transmit power requirementsVSAvoidbandwidth and data capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The MTC PUCCH message is segmented into multiple parts and transmitted across multiple resource blocks (RBs) instead of a single RB. This segmentation allows the message to occupy more total bandwidth while maintaining compliance with per-RB power and bandwidth constraints in unlicensed spectrum, thereby increasing overall data capacity without violating regulatory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If multiple resource blocks are used for MTC PUCCH transmission, then bandwidth and data capacity are extended, but the complexity of message configuration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth and data capacityVSAvoidmessage configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically configures the payload size and number of resource blocks based on current communication needs and channel conditions. The base station can independently or jointly with the network device provide indications of MTC PUCCH message configuration, allowing flexible adaptation of message parameters without requiring complex static configuration, thereby managing complexity while maintaining extended bandwidth capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If payload size configuration is increased, then more data can be transmitted, but the transmit power requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata capacityVSAvoidtransmit power requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the increased payload across multiple resource blocks, the transmit power is distributed over a larger frequency bandwidth. This reduces the power spectral density (PSD) per resource block, allowing the system to transmit more total data while complying with maximum PSD requirements in unlicensed spectrum bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If MTC PUCCH messages are designed for specific radio frequency bands, then compliance with band-specific protocols is achieved, but the flexibility in message design is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with band-specific protocolsVSAvoidmessage design flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The MTC PUCCH message configuration is made dynamic and adaptable to different radio frequency bands. The base station provides band-specific configuration indications that adjust payload size, resource block allocation, and transmission parameters according to the specific requirements of each band (e.g., 5 GHz ISM bands), while maintaining a unified flexible framework that can accommodate various protocol requirements without sacrificing design versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3662606B1Enhanced machine type communications physical uplink control channel design
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3662606B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3662606B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3662606B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a configuration message indicating a payload size configuration for machine type communication (MTC) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) messages. The UE may generate an MTC PUCCH message based at least in part on the payload size configuration and a PUCCH format of MTC uplink control information for transmission by the UE. The UE may transmit the MTC PUCCH message over a plurality of RBs in a frequency domain.