EPDCCH Search Space Configuration for Frequency Diversity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently setting a search space for downlink control channels, particularly in achieving optimal frequency diversity and interference randomization, especially with the introduction of advanced technologies like carrier aggregation and multi-node systems.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves configuring Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) candidates across multiple PRB pairs, using a combination of contiguous and distributed resource sets, and applying offsets between sub-search spaces to prevent overlap and optimize resource usage, thereby enhancing frequency selective diversity and interference randomization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If EPDCCH candidates are configured using only contiguous resource sets, then resource allocation is simple, but frequency diversity gain is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency diversity gainVSAvoidsearch space configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The search space is divided into multiple sub-search spaces, each with different configuration parameters (contiguous and distributed resource sets). This segmentation allows the system to combine both contiguous and distributed resource allocation approaches, achieving frequency diversity gain while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through structured division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the search space are assigned different qualities: some sub-search spaces use contiguous resource sets for simple allocation, while others use distributed resource sets for frequency diversity. This local differentiation optimizes both reliability and complexity management in different regions of the search space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If multiple sub-search spaces are configured with overlapping resources, then resource utilization is high, but interference between candidates increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidinterference between EPDCCH candidates
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Offsets are applied asymmetrically to different sub-search spaces to shift their resource allocations. By configuring different offset values for different sub-search spaces, the system prevents complete overlap of resources while maintaining high overall utilization, thereby reducing interference between EPDCCH candidates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The problem of resource overlap is solved by introducing an additional dimension - the offset parameter. Instead of only adjusting the number of resources in each sub-search space, the system uses offsets to shift resources in the frequency domain, allowing multiple sub-search spaces to coexist with minimal interference while maintaining high utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If distributed mapping is used for EPDCCH, then frequency diversity is improved, but blind decoding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency diversityVSAvoidblind decoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributed mapping search space is segmented into multiple sub-search spaces with different configuration parameters. This segmentation reduces the number of blind decoding attempts required in each sub-search space while maintaining the overall frequency diversity benefit of distributed mapping across the entire EPDCCH search space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2838215B1Method for setting search region for downlink control channel in wireless communication system, and apparatus therefor
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2838215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2838215B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2838215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for a terminal to receive an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) from a based station in a wireless communication system. In detail, the method includes the step of: receiving the EPDCCH by monitoring EPDCCH candidates consisting of one or more enhanced control channel elements (ECCEs) in at least one resource block set for EPDCCH, wherein the number of ECCEs forming each of the EPDCCH candidates corresponds to an aggregation level, and the period between the EPDCCH candidates for one carrier, which is a specific aggregation level, is determined by dividing the total number of ECCEs included in each of the one or more resource blocks by a corresponding aggregation level and the number of the EPDCCH candidates which are the specific aggregation level.