Half-Duplex UE RACH Transmission Overlap Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications, half-duplex user equipment (UE) faces challenges in simultaneously monitoring downlink reference signals and transmitting random access channel (RACH) signals due to overlapping time periods, leading to inefficiencies and potential collisions between uplink and downlink communications.

Innovation Solution

The UE identifies overlaps between RACH occasions and downlink reference signals, refraining from monitoring during RACH occasions to prioritize RACH transmission, and adjusts its phase-locked loop capabilities to manage switching gaps, allowing for efficient RACH procedures without disrupting downlink signal reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE monitors downlink reference signals during overlapping time periods with RACH occasions, then downlink signal reception is maintained, but RACH transmission collides and fails

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRACH transmission success rateVSAvoiddownlink monitoring time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic time resource allocation where the UE adaptively switches between monitoring and transmission modes based on whether RACH occasions overlap with downlink reference signals. When overlap is detected, the UE dynamically adjusts its behavior to prioritize RACH transmission, ensuring reliable random access while minimizing time loss through intelligent resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by having the UE proactively identify overlapping time periods between RACH occasions and downlink reference signals before the collision occurs. The UE then preemptively refrains from monitoring downlink signals during these overlapping periods, preventing RACH transmission failures before they happen while managing the trade-off in downlink monitoring time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the UE prioritizes RACH transmission by refraining from monitoring downlink signals during overlapping periods, then RACH success rate improves, but downlink signal reception is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRACH transmission success rateVSAvoiddownlink reference signal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the conflicting monitoring function from the overlapping time period by having the UE selectively refrain from monitoring downlink reference signals only during RACH occasions that overlap with downlink transmissions. This extraction approach isolates the conflict to specific time windows, ensuring RACH reliability while minimizing information loss by maintaining monitoring during non-overlapping periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the UE by adjusting its monitoring behavior based on the overlap condition. When overlap is detected, the UE modifies its monitoring parameter to skip downlink reference signals during RACH occasions, thereby improving RACH success rate while managing the loss of downlink information through conditional parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the UE adjusts phase-locked loop capabilities to manage switching gaps, then switching efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching efficiencyVSAvoidphase-locked loop management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE proactively adjust its phase-locked loop capabilities in advance of RACH occasions that overlap with downlink reference signals. The UE prepares the switching gap beforehand, ensuring efficient transitions between monitoring and transmission modes while managing device complexity through pre-configured adjustment protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by designing the phase-locked loop adjustment mechanism to serve multiple functions: managing switching gaps, optimizing RACH transmission timing, and coordinating with downlink monitoring schedules. This multi-functional approach improves switching efficiency while containing device complexity by consolidating control functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240244668A1Random access channel transmission and downlink monitoring by a half-duplex user equipment
Publication Date: 2024.07.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • US20240244668A1 patent drawing
  • US20240244668A1 patent drawing
  • US20240244668A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may monitor for one or more downlink reference signals periodically transmitted from a base station during a first time period. The UE may determine that the UE is to participate in a random access procedure with the base station during a random access occasion, while the UE is operating in a half-duplex communication mode. The UE may identify that a first downlink reference signal is scheduled during a second time period that includes at least one random access occasion that corresponds with a reference signal for which the UE is configured to monitor, where the second time period is a subset of the first time period. As such, the UE may refrain from monitoring for the downlink reference signal during the time period in favor or proceeding with the random access procedure.