Groupcast HARQ-ACK Multiplexing on PUCCH and PUSCH
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in providing groupcast and multicast services due to separate data transmission/reception methods, which waste frequency and time resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that include a terminal and base station equipped with a transceiver and controller to efficiently transmit and receive hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement (ACK) information, identifying the appropriate reporting mode based on whether the ACK information is multiplexed with a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), allowing for optimized data transmission/reception in groupcast and multicast services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate data transmission/reception methods are used for groupcast and multicast services, then individual data delivery is ensured, but frequency and time resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines groupcast and multicast data transmissions into a single shared channel resource. The base station transmits data for multiple user equipments simultaneously on the same physical downlink shared channel, and UEs report HARQ-ACK information through a unified physical uplink control channel. This merging approach eliminates redundant resource allocation while ensuring reliable data delivery to all group members.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical downlink shared channel is configured to serve multiple functions by carrying data for multiple user equipments simultaneously. The channel becomes universal for groupcast/multicast service delivery, and the physical uplink control channel universally handles HARQ-ACK reporting for all UEs in the group, improving overall system resource utilization efficiency.
2Reliability
If HARQ-ACK information is transmitted separately for each UE in groupcast/multicast, then individual feedback is ensured, but uplink time resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges HARQ-ACK information from multiple user equipments into a single consolidated feedback transmission on the physical uplink control channel. The base station receives individual HARQ-ACK bits from each UE and combines them into a unified feedback signal, eliminating the need for separate uplink transmissions for each UE while maintaining feedback reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a feedback reference signal that is copied across multiple time resources. The base station transmits the feedback reference signal in multiple downlink slots, and UEs report HARQ-ACK information based on this replicated reference, enabling time-efficient feedback collection without losing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a communication scheme and a system thereof for converging IoT technology and a 5G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate beyond that of a 4G system. The disclosure can be applied to intelligent services (for example, services related to smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars, connected cars, health care, digital education, retail business, security, and safety) based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology. Further, disclosed is a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate than a post-4G communication system such as LTE.