Flexible E-PDCCH Resource Allocation for LTE-A Control Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is no effective solution for transmitting Downlink Control Information (DCI) over Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channels (E-PDCCHs in LTE-A systems, which limits transmission efficiency and system performance.

Innovation Solution

The method involves selecting candidate E-PDCCHs that occupy both consecutive and inconsecutive time-frequency resources, allowing for flexible configuration of Enhanced-Control Channel Elements (E-CCE) based on aggregation levels, enabling the network side to transmit DCI and user equipment to perform blind detection across various resource configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If E-PDCCH resources are allocated in the PDSCH domain with fixed configurations, then transmission schemes are simplified, but transmission efficiency and system performance are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of transmission schemeVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic E-PDCCH resource allocation where the network side can flexibly configure the number and positions of E-PDCCH regions based on channel conditions, traffic load, and system requirements. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to varying transmission needs, improving transmission efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters including the number of E-PDCCH regions, the number of enhanced resource element groups (EREGs) per region, and the mapping patterns of E-CCEs to E-PDCCHs. These parameter variations enable flexible resource allocation that optimizes transmission efficiency for different scenarios while keeping the underlying transmission scheme structure consistent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If E-PDCCHs occupy only consecutive frequency resources, then resource allocation is simple, but frequency diversity gain is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation complexityVSAvoidfrequency diversity gain
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments E-PDCCH resources into multiple E-PDCCH regions distributed across the frequency domain. Each region can be independently configured and allocated, allowing the system to achieve frequency diversity by spreading E-PDCCH transmissions across non-consecutive frequency resources while maintaining independent control over each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different resource allocation strategies to different E-PDCCH regions based on local channel conditions. Each region can be configured with specific properties such as the number of E-REGs, aggregation levels, and mapping patterns, allowing optimized performance for local frequency conditions while maintaining overall system coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If flexible resource configuration is implemented for E-PDCCHs, then transmission efficiency is improved, but resource allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements semi-static configuration of E-PDCCH resources through higher-layer signaling (e.g., RRC configuration) before actual transmission. This preliminary configuration establishes the basic resource structure, number of regions, and mapping patterns, reducing the complexity of real-time resource allocation while maintaining flexibility for dynamic adjustments when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediate configuration layer that mediates between fixed system parameters and dynamic transmission requirements. Through standardized configuration parameters and procedures, the system achieves flexible resource allocation without requiring complex real-time decision-making, balancing flexibility and complexity through structured intermediate configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2797371B1Method, system and apparatus for flexibly changing the amount of allocated e-pdcch resources
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 CHINA ACAD OF TELECOMM TECH
  • EP2797371B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2797371B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP2797371B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~2

AI summary

Embodiments of this application relate to the field of wireless communications and particularly to a method of and system and apparatus for transmitting information so as to transmit DCI over E-PDCCHs. A method according to an embodiment of the invention includes: the network side selecting candidate E-PDCCHs for carrying DCI from a set of candidate E-PDCCHs, wherein the set of candidate E-PDCCHs includes E-PDCCHs occupying a plurality of time-frequency resources consecutive in frequency domain and E-PDCCHs occupying a plurality of time-frequency resources inconsecutive in frequency domain; and the network side transmitting the DCI over the selected candidate E-PDCCHs. With the method according to the embodiment of the invention, DCI can be transmitted over E-PDCCHs to thereby enable effectively the E-PDCCHs to occupy both the resources consecutive in frequency domain and the resources inconsecutive in frequency domain and improve the transmission efficiency and the system performance.