Group Common DCI Beam Indication for MU-MIMO UE Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently configuring group common downlink control information (DCI) for multi-user multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) communications, which affects beam management and resource allocation in MU-MIMO environments.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a base station generates and transmits a beamformed signal to a group of UEs spatially close to each other, using group common DCI that includes beam and path-loss reference signal indications, with identifiers specific to the UE group or individual UEs, indicated by radio network temporary identifiers or radio resource control signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If group common DCI is used for MU-MIMO communication, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but beam management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam indication process by introducing a separate indication field in group common DCI that specifically points to TCI states configured via RRC signaling. This segmentation allows the beam management information to be separated from general resource allocation information, enabling efficient group-wide beam updates without overwhelming the DCI structure with all beam management details.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces TCI (Transmission Configuration Indicator) states as an intermediary layer between RRC configuration and physical layer beam indication. The TCI states act as pre-configured beam templates that can be efficiently referenced by group common DCI, reducing the need to transmit complete beam management information in every DCI message while maintaining flexibility.
2Productivity
If beam indication is included in group common DCI, then beam management efficiency is improved, but DCI overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring TCI states through RRC signaling before actual beam indication is needed. These pre-configured TCI states contain all necessary beam formation parameters, allowing the group common DCI to simply reference them with compact indication fields rather than transmitting complete beam management data each time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves detailed beam management configuration to a different dimension (RRC signaling layer) while keeping the physical layer DCI compact. The TCI states are configured in advance through higher-layer RRC messages, allowing the physical layer group common DCI to use concise indication fields that reference these pre-configured states, effectively reducing DCI overhead.
3Measurement precision
If UE-specific identifiers are used in group common DCI, then communication precision is improved, but signaling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing UE-specific information only where needed within the group common DCI structure. The indication fields can selectively reference TCI states with UE-specific parameters when required, while maintaining group-wide common information for other UEs, thus achieving precise targeting without uniformly increasing complexity for all UEs.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station may perform a beamforming for a UE group including UEs that are disposed spatially close to each other for MU-MIMO. The base station may generate group common DCI including a beam indication and/or a PL-RS indication for the UE group. The ID included in the group common DCI may be group specific for the UE group or UE specific for a specific UE. The beam indication for different channels may be indicated by an RNTI or an RRC.