Extended Search Space for Multi-Carrier Control Channel Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiple carrier wireless communication systems, the inefficiency of control channel monitoring and transmission leads to increased probability of control channel blocking and higher decoding complexity for user equipment, resulting in battery consumption and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining an extended search space in the control region of a subframe to monitor downlink control channels for multiple scheduled component carriers, reducing the burden of blind decoding and enhancing battery efficiency by varying the search space size based on the number of component carriers, and using a carrier indicator field to identify scheduled carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multiple carrier system employs the channel structure of a single carrier system as it is, then backward compatibility for legacy systems is supported, but control channel monitoring efficiency deteriorates and decoding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control region is segmented into multiple search spaces, each corresponding to a specific component carrier. This segmentation allows the UE to monitor control channels for multiple carriers without having to decode the entire control region, thereby reducing decoding complexity while maintaining support for multiple carriers
Solution Approach 2:
The search space configuration is made dynamic by allowing the size and position of search spaces to vary based on the number of scheduled component carriers. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the monitoring efficiency for different carrier configurations while maintaining backward compatibility
2Productivity
If control channels for multiple component carriers are scheduled in a single subframe, then data rate is increased, but probability of control channel blocking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control channel monitoring is segmented into multiple search spaces distributed across the control region. This segmentation reduces the concentration of control channels in a single area, thereby reducing the probability of blocking while still allowing multiple carriers to be scheduled in a single subframe
Solution Approach 2:
The search spaces are distributed not only in frequency domain but also in time domain across different control regions. This multi-dimensional distribution reduces the blocking probability by providing alternative paths for control channel transmission while maintaining high data rates
3Adaptability or versatility
If the search space size is increased to monitor multiple component carriers, then control channel monitoring capability is improved, but decoding complexity and battery consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control region is divided into multiple search spaces, each dedicated to monitoring control channels for specific component carriers. This segmentation allows the UE to focus decoding efforts on smaller, manageable portions of the control region, reducing overall decoding complexity and battery consumption while maintaining the capability to monitor multiple carriers
Solution Approach 2:
The size and configuration of search spaces are dynamically adjusted based on the number of scheduled component carriers. When fewer carriers are scheduled, the search space size is reduced, thereby reducing decoding complexity and battery consumption. This parameter adaptation maintains monitoring capability while optimizing energy efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an apparatus and a method for monitoring a control channel in a multiple-carrier system. The user equipment monitors downlink control channels for a plurality of scheduled component carriers in an extended search space. The user equipment receives downlink control information for the scheduled component carrier via a successfully decoded downlink control channel.