Explicit Common Beam Index Configuration for PUCCH
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of NR, face challenges in efficiently associating physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmissions with appropriate common beam indices under the unified TCI state framework, especially for multi-TRP operations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves explicit common beam index configurations for PUCCH transmissions, where a wireless device (WD) receives a common beam index configuration indicating at least one common beam index associated with a unified TCI state. This configuration allows the WD to determine spatial filters for PUCCH transmissions based on the indicated common beam indices, enabling association with one or more unified TCI states for multi-TRP transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If implicit beam association methods are used for PUCCH transmissions, then the system maintains compatibility with existing frameworks, but the signaling overhead and latency increase due to complex determination procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The network configures and indicates common beam indices to the WD in advance through RRC signaling or MAC CE, before PUCCH transmissions occur. This preliminary configuration enables the WD to directly use these indicated beams for PUCCH transmissions without performing complex implicit determination procedures during actual transmissions, thereby reducing signaling latency while maintaining framework compatibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beam indication methods are supported for multi-TRP operations, then the system enhances beam management flexibility, but the device complexity increases due to multiple determination procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam determination logic from complex implicit procedures and replaces it with direct common beam index indications provided by the network. By taking out the need for WD to perform complex spatial filter determination and beam association procedures, the solution reduces device complexity while maintaining multi-TRP operation flexibility through network-configured beam indices
3Loss of time
If explicit common beam index configuration is implemented, then the signaling overhead is reduced through direct indication, but the network complexity increases due to configuration management
Solution Approach 1:
The common beam indices configured by the network serve multiple functions: they indicate the beams for PUCCH transmissions, associate with unified TCI states for multi-TRP operations, and provide spatial filter determination references. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate signaling mechanisms, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while the network manages configuration through existing RRC and MAC CE frameworks
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and apparatus for explicit common beam index configurations for a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device (WD) includes receiving a common beam index configuration, the common beam index configuration indicating at least one common beam index, each of the at least one common beam index being associated with a unified transmission configuration indication (TCI), state of a plurality of unified TCI states. The method also includes determining a first spatial filter for a first physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, transmission based at least in part on a first unified TCI state associated with a first common beam index of the at least one common beam index.