Grant-Free Transmission Resource Allocation for Uplink Efficiency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In grant-free transmission, terminals face challenges in efficiently adjusting transmission parameters without using additional control information, leading to resource wastage and potential pilot collisions, which are critical for reliable and low-latency communications like URLLC services.

Innovation Solution

Allocating multiple dedicated transmission resources to terminals, each corresponding to different transmission parameter sets, allowing them to adjust parameters without sending control information, thus saving uplink air interface resources and avoiding pilot collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a terminal uses grant-free transmission with a fixed preset MCS to reduce detection complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates because the terminal cannot adjust transmission parameters dynamically

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection complexityVSAvoidtransmission parameter adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments transmission resources by associating different pilots with different MCS values. Each pilot corresponds to a specific transmission parameter configuration, allowing the system to divide the transmission space into distinct segments with different characteristics. This enables the terminal to select appropriate parameters without complex real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling terminals to autonomously select transmission parameters based on pre-configured pilot-MCS associations. The terminal independently determines the appropriate MCS by selecting the corresponding pilot, eliminating the need for network coordination or additional control signaling for parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal adjusts MCS by sending additional control information to the network device, then adaptability is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates due to consumption of valuable uplink air interface resources

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMCS adjustment capabilityVSAvoiduplink air interface resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pilot selection function with the MCS indication function. By associating specific pilots with specific MCS values, the patent combines two separate functions (pilot transmission for channel estimation and MCS indication for adaptive modulation) into a single unified mechanism, eliminating the need for separate control information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the MCS indication function from the control information domain and integrates it into the physical layer pilot domain. This extraction moves the parameter indication capability from the signaling layer to the physical transmission layer, where it can be conveyed implicitly through pilot selection rather than explicit control messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If multiple terminals perform contention-based transmission on the same resource in grant-free mode, then resource utilization is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to pilot collisions affecting transmission correctness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different pilot characteristics to different terminals or transmission conditions. Each terminal is configured with specific pilots corresponding to its service requirements and channel conditions, creating localized transmission qualities that reduce interference and collision probability while maintaining high resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3528572B1Unlicensed transmission method, terminal and network equipment
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3528572B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3528572B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3528572B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a grant-free transmission method, a terminal, and a network device. The method includes: allocating, by a network device to a terminal, a plurality of dedicated transmission resources for grant-free transmission; determining, by the terminal, a transmission parameter set for grant-free transmission based on current channel conditions and a service requirement, and performing grant-free transmission by using the transmission parameter set; and determining, by the network device based on the dedicated transmission resource, a transmission parameter for performing grant-free transmission by the terminal, and performing corresponding detection. In this manner, no additional signaling needs to be used to notify the network device of a used transmission parameter, thereby saving valuable uplink air interface resources.