Flexible Information Block Scheduling for Low-Latency Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transmission mechanisms in ultra-reliability low-latency communication (URLLC) fail to meet low-latency requirements in certain scenarios, particularly in industrial manufacturing, leading to inefficiencies and performance bottlenecks.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that allows for flexible determination of the start time domain position of information blocks within frame structures, enabling immediate communication without waiting for frame boundaries, and aligning subcarrier spacings to reduce latency and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional communication protocols are used for device-to-device communication, then compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but communication latency increases and productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol is segmented into two distinct modes: control plane protocol for setup and data plane protocol for actual data transfer. This segmentation allows the system to use a simple, compatible control protocol for ease of operation while switching to an optimized data protocol for high-speed transfer, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between control plane and data plane protocols based on the communication phase. During setup, it uses the control plane protocol for compatibility and ease of operation; during active data transfer, it transitions to the data plane protocol for optimized performance and productivity, eliminating the need to choose one protocol over the other.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device-to-device communication is implemented without network infrastructure, then independence from network coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is self-configuring and self-managing through automated discovery, authentication, and connection establishment processes. Devices automatically perform network formation, peer discovery, and protocol negotiation without requiring complex manual configuration or external network infrastructure, thereby achieving network independence while keeping device complexity manageable.
3Speed
If direct device-to-device communication is used, then communication speed is improved, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control plane protocol acts as an intermediary layer that establishes secure authentication, encryption keys, and communication parameters before enabling direct high-speed data transfer. This mediator ensures that while devices communicate directly for speed, the interaction is governed by security protocols that mitigate risks such as unauthorized access and data interception.
4Reliability
If control messages are sent frequently for connection management, then connection reliability is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic heartbeat messages and structured connection management protocols that maintain reliability through regular status checks while optimizing the frequency and content of control messages. This periodic action ensures connections remain reliable without excessive overhead, as messages are sent only when necessary to maintain or update connection state.
Data Source
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Figure 7(a)~7(c)
AI summary
A communication method and apparatus are provided, to reduce a transmission latency. The method includes: determining an information block and performing communication based on the information block. The information block includes at least two of the following: a first reference signal, a first control channel, a first data channel, a second reference signal, or a second control channel. The first reference signal is used to determine detection time of the first control channel, the first control channel is used to schedule the first data channel, the second reference signal is used to demodulate the first data channel, and the second control channel is used to feed back whether the first data channel is successfully received. A start time domain position of the information block is located at any position in a time unit in a first frame structure, or is located at a boundary of a time unit in a second frame structure. The first frame structure is a frame structure corresponding to a first subcarrier spacing, the second frame structure is a frame structure corresponding to a second subcarrier spacing, the second subcarrier spacing is greater than the first subcarrier spacing, and the first subcarrier spacing is a subcarrier spacing of the first data channel.