Group DCI Structure for MU-MIMO Scheduling Overhead Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face significant control signaling overhead and PDCCH blocking issues due to separate DCI transmissions for each UE in multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) groups, leading to degraded performance and interference management challenges.

Innovation Solution

Implementing group DCI that includes common and UE-specific information for a multi-user group, reducing control signaling overhead and enabling implicit network assistance for interference mitigation in MU-MIMO scheduling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate DCI transmissions are used for each UE in MU-MIMO groups, then individual scheduling flexibility is maintained, but control signaling overhead increases and PDCCH blocking occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate DCI transmissions into a single group DCI message that schedules multiple UEs simultaneously. This merging approach reduces control signaling overhead by transmitting one common DCI for the entire MU-MIMO group rather than separate DCIs for each UE, while still maintaining individual scheduling flexibility through UE-specific fields within the group DCI structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The group DCI is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides common scheduling information for all UEs in the MU-MIMO group, includes UE-specific resource allocation details, and enables implicit network assistance for interference mitigation. This multi-functional design allows a single DCI transmission to replace multiple separate transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If separate DCI transmissions are used for each UE in MU-MIMO groups, then individual scheduling control is maintained, but PDCCH blocking and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual scheduling controlVSAvoidPDCCH blocking

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging individual DCI transmissions into a single group DCI, the patent reduces the number of PDCCH transmissions required, thereby reducing PDCCH blocking probability. The group DCI structure maintains individual scheduling control through dedicated fields for each UE while improving reliability by consolidating control information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If group DCI is implemented for MU-MIMO groups, then control signaling overhead is reduced, but individual UE-specific information delivery becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol signaling overheadVSAvoidDCI structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The group DCI is segmented into distinct functional sections: common fields for group-level scheduling information, UE-specific fields for individual UE resource allocation, and implicit network assistance information for interference mitigation. This segmentation allows the complex group DCI structure to be systematically organized and processed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the group DCI have specialized functions tailored to specific needs: common fields provide general scheduling parameters applicable to all UEs, while UE-specific fields provide customized resource allocation for individual UEs. This local quality approach allows the DCI structure to efficiently serve both group-level and individual-level scheduling requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Loss of information

If multiple separate DCI transmissions are used, then comprehensive scheduling information is provided, but radio resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling information completenessVSAvoidradio resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate DCI transmissions into a single group DCI message that contains all necessary scheduling information for multiple UEs. This consolidation maintains complete scheduling information while reducing radio resource consumption by transmitting control information once for the entire MU-MIMO group rather than multiple separate transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260012955A1Group downlink control information for multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output communication

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive group downlink control information (DCI) indicating multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) scheduling for a multi-user group of UEs. The UE may communicate in accordance with the group DCI. Numerous other aspects are described.