EPDCCH Uplink Resource Allocation Indexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Determining a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ-ACK) resource for sending ACK/NACK in response to downlink grants sent over Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) is challenging, as existing methods lack a clear indexing scheme for Enhanced Control Channel Elements (ECCEs) to uniquely allocate uplink resources for localized and distributed transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to assign sequential index values for localized ECCEs and virtual index values for distributed ECCEs, ensuring unique uplink resources by determining the position of resource element groups within localized control channel elements, thereby avoiding conflicts between index values for different transmission sets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single indexing scheme is used for both localized and distributed ECCEs, then the indexing structure is simple, but index conflicts occur leading to ambiguous uplink resource allocation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindexing structureVSAvoiduplink resource allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ECCE indexing into two separate segments: localized ECCEs use one indexing scheme while distributed ECCEs use another indexing scheme. This segmentation prevents index conflicts between the two transmission types while maintaining clear uplink resource allocation, directly resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and allocation reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate indexing schemes are used for localized and distributed ECCEs, then uplink resource allocation is unambiguous, but the indexing structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink resource allocationVSAvoidindexing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different indexing characteristics to different ECCE types: localized ECCEs use sequential indexing optimized for their structure, while distributed ECCEs use a different indexing approach suited to their distributed nature. This local quality differentiation ensures reliable resource allocation for each transmission type while keeping each indexing scheme relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If implicit PUCCH allocation is used based on E-PDCCH search space structure, then additional signaling is avoided, but the allocation method becomes ambiguous for different transmission types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidresource allocation clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal implicit allocation mechanism that works for both localized and distributed transmissions. By designing the indexing schemes to naturally differentiate between transmission types while following the same implicit allocation principle, the system maintains the benefit of reduced signaling overhead while achieving clear and unambiguous resource allocation for different ECCE types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2883320B1Methods and systems for determining uplink resources

Publication Date: 2020.01.22 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

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AI summary

At least one example embodiment discloses a method of determining uplink resources. The method includes assigning index values for control channel elements, the control channel elements being allocated to at least one of first and second control channel transmission sets, the uplink resources being based on the index values, and an uplink resource for the first control channel transmission being different than an uplink resource for the second control channel transmission.