Group Common PDCCH Scheduling for Reduced-Capability NR Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing configured uplink and downlink grants for a large number of reduced capability New Radio (NR) devices using UE-specific signaling results in significant resource wastage and decreased spectral efficiency due to high signaling overhead.

Innovation Solution

Implementing group common PDCCH (GC-PDCCH) for simultaneous activation and deactivation of configured scheduling for a group of UEs, using higher layer signaling to configure parameters, and employing GC-PDCCH with new DCI formats to manage DL-SPS Type 2 and UL CG Type 3 grants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UE-specific signaling is used to manage configured uplink and downlink grants for a large number of reduced capability NR devices, then individual device control and flexibility are improved, but resource consumption increases and spectral efficiency decreases due to high signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual device controlVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple UE-specific PDCCH transmissions into a single group common PDCCH transmission that can simultaneously address multiple UEs. The GC-PDCCH carries DCI formats that can activate, deactivate, or modify configured grants for multiple UEs in one transmission, thereby reducing the total number of PDCCH transmissions and associated resource consumption while maintaining individual device control through UE-specific identifiers within the group address

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If UE-specific PDCCH transmissions are used for each device, then individual activation and deactivation control is achieved, but signaling overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual activation and deactivation controlVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal GC-PDCCH transmission mechanism that can serve multiple UEs simultaneously. The DCI formats within the GC-PDCCH are designed to be multi-functional, capable of addressing different UE groups, different grant types (uplink and downlink), and different activation/deactivation states through configurable fields and UE-specific identifiers, thereby reducing signaling overhead while preserving individual control capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If group common PDCCH signaling is used to simultaneously activate and deactivate configured scheduling for a group of UEs, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing group configurations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidgroup configuration management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the large group of UEs into smaller sub-groups using configurable identifiers and masks in the GC-PDCCH. This segmentation allows the network to manage configurations in manageable chunks rather than treating all UEs as a single large group, reducing the complexity of tracking and managing individual configurations while still achieving efficient group-based resource allocation through hierarchical group management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12543192B2PDCCH enhancements for reduced capability new radio devices

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 IPLA HLDG INC

AI summary

Configured uplink and/or downlink grants may be managed by providing configuration parameters through higher layer signaling and then activating and/or deactivating use of provided configurations through group common PDCCH signalling that is transmitted to multiple UEs simultaneously. Similarly, enhancements to group common PDCCH signalling may be used to achieve dynamic scheduling.