Group DCI PUCCH Power Control Across Primary and Secondary Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently managing power control for physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) due to limitations in downlink control information (DCI) handling, which can lead to suboptimal transmission power adjustments and interference issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for group-based power control using DCI to manage power control commands for both primary and secondary PUCCHs, allowing for coordinated power adjustments across multiple cells, enhancing transmission efficiency and reducing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If group-based DCI power control is implemented for multiple PUCCHs, then power control management efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control management efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments power control management by introducing separate TPC command fields in DCI for different PUCCH groups (first TPC command for first PUCCH, second TPC command for second PUCCH). This segmentation allows independent power control of multiple PUCCHs through a single group-common DCI, improving management efficiency while distributing the complexity across structured control fields rather than requiring complex cross-cell coordination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate TPC commands are provided for different PUCCHs in group-common DCI, then transmission quality is improved, but control information overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidcontrol information overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple PUCCH power control commands into a single group-common DCI message. By combining first TPC command and second TPC command in one DCI transmission, the system achieves differentiated power control for multiple PUCCHs (improving transmission quality) while avoiding the overhead of separate DCI messages for each PUCCH (reducing control information overhead).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4378222B1Group common DCI based power control with pucch carrier switch
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4378222B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4378222B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP4378222B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable medium are provided for enabling DCI based power control for PUCCH. An example method includes receiving, from a network entity, a DCI comprising a group TPC message, the DCI indicating multiple TPCs including one or more TPCs associated with one or more secondary cells and a primary cell for the UE and one or more other UEs. The example method further includes identifying a TPC to be applied to a target secondary cell or a target primary cell from the one or more TPCs. The example method further includes transmitting, to the base station, a PUCCH on the target secondary cell or the target primary cell based on the identified TPC from the one or more TPCs.