Flexible Transport Blocks Spanning Multiple Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, do not fully utilize transmission opportunities due to limitations in user-specific transmission opportunity length, which restricts efficient resource allocation and service quality.
Innovation Solution
Implementing flexible transport blocks that can span multiple slots within a transmission opportunity, allowing for dynamic allocation of code block groups and ACK/NACK feedback mechanisms to optimize resource utilization and extend the effective length of user-specific transmission opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transport blocks are limited to single-slot transmission, then HARQ process management is simplified, but transmission opportunity utilization is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transport block into multiple code block groups (CBGs) that can be transmitted across multiple slots. Each CBG can be independently acknowledged, allowing the transport block to span multiple slots while maintaining manageable HARQ feedback through group-based acknowledgments rather than individual slot acknowledgments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends transmission from a single time slot dimension to multiple time slots by allowing transport blocks to span across slot boundaries. This dimensional extension in the time domain enables fuller utilization of transmission opportunities while the CBG segmentation provides the management structure needed to handle this extended transmission.
2Reliability
If user-specific transmission opportunity length is fixed, then resource allocation is simplified, but service quality and latency requirements cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic adaptation of transmission opportunities by allowing transport blocks to extend across multiple slots based on service requirements. The system can dynamically adjust the transmission duration and CBG allocation to meet varying latency and reliability requirements for different services co-existing in the same subframe.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transmission block duration from fixed single-slot to variable multi-slot transmission. By modifying the time duration parameter and allowing transport blocks to span multiple slots with configurable CBG allocations, the system can meet diverse service quality requirements while maintaining resource allocation through extended temporal parameters.
3Loss of time
If transmission opportunity is extended to meet latency requirements, then service quality improves, but resource allocation efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the transport block into multiple CBGs that can be transmitted and acknowledged independently across multiple slots, the patent reduces latency through earlier potential acknowledgment and retransmission initiation. Meanwhile, the segmented structure allows flexible resource allocation where remaining CBGs can be efficiently scheduled in subsequent opportunities, maintaining overall resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary transmission of CBGs across multiple slots within a single transport block framework, allowing data to be sent earlier rather than waiting for complete data preparation. This preliminary action across slots reduces latency while the structured CBG approach maintains resource allocation efficiency through organized transmission and acknowledgment sequences.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transmission opportunity (TO) allows a transmitting device, such as a base station to transmit up to a pre-determined TO duration. For new radio (NR), subcarrier spacing (SCS) is no longer fixed. This may limit a TO duration for a UE to a small portion of the allowed TO duration, for new radio (NR), a transport block (TB) takes up one slot. A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are disclosed extend a TB over more than one slot to maximize utilization of a TO duration, for improved resource utilization and service quality. A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium implemented by a communication device are disclosed to receive a signaling message, to configure a flexible transport block (TB) to extend the TB over more than one slot. Then the communication device may receive a portion of the flexible TB, based on the received signaling message.