Group RNTI Scheduling for Multi-UE DCI Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network systems face high latency and signaling overhead due to the need to transmit downlink control information (DCI) to multiple user equipment (UEs) individually, which can overwhelm cellular networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing group-based scheduling by associating a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) with a group of UEs, transmitting scrambled DCI, and performing operations indicated by the control information to reduce latency and signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual DCI transmission to each UE is implemented, then each UE receives accurate scheduling control, but signaling overhead and network processing load increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling control accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines individual DCI transmissions into a single group-based DCI that schedules multiple UEs simultaneously. The group DCI includes a group of UEs and indicates resources for multiple UEs in one message, reducing the total number of signaling messages while maintaining accurate scheduling control for each UE within the group.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The group DCI serves multiple functions by simultaneously scheduling multiple UEs for uplink transmissions. A single DCI message performs the scheduling function for multiple UEs that would otherwise require separate DCI messages, making the signaling mechanism more efficient and reducing overall overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If individual DCI transmission to each UE is implemented, then scheduling control is precise, but network processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling control precisionVSAvoidnetwork processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual scheduling operations into a single group-based scheduling operation. Instead of processing and transmitting separate DCI messages for each UE, the network processes one group DCI that schedules multiple UEs, significantly reducing network processing load and improving efficiency while maintaining scheduling precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If group-based scheduling is implemented, then signaling overhead is reduced, but UE identification and targeting becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidUE identification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments UEs into distinct groups, each identified by a group identifier. The group DCI includes this identifier and indicates resources for multiple UEs within that specific group. This segmentation allows the system to manage group-based scheduling while maintaining clear UE identification and targeting through the group identifier mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12495409B2Scheduling a group of user equipment by a network cell

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 APPLE INC

AI summary

A cell performs simultaneous scheduling for a group of user equipment (UE). The cell associates a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) with a group of user equipment (UEs), transmits a signal to the group of UEs, the signal scrambled by the RNTI and including control information and performs an operation indicated in the control information.