IoT Control Signaling Bitmap Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Next-generation wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing control signaling for a massive number of connections in IoT scenarios, where sporadic and small packet size traffic leads to significant resource overhead, bottlenecking the control channel.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining configuration parameters like MCS, TB size, and HARQ PID in control signaling packets using bit maps, where absent information elements are set to predetermined values, and present elements use predefined values, allowing for efficient data transfers by minimizing signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control signaling packets include all configuration parameters explicitly, then parameter completeness is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter completenessVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary configuration parameters to be dynamically configured for each UE into the control signaling packet, while leaving out parameters that can be reliably inferred or are not needed for the current transmission mode. This selective inclusion reduces signaling overhead while maintaining parameter completeness for the active configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration where UEs are pre-configured with default values and capability information before actual data transmission. This allows the control signaling to only carry changes or specific active parameters rather than all parameters, reducing overhead while ensuring complete configuration state is maintained through the preliminary setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If control signaling packets are minimized to reduce overhead, then signaling efficiency is improved, but parameter configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling efficiencyVSAvoidparameter configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control signaling packet structure is made dynamic, allowing the set of included information elements to vary based on the current transmission mode, UE capabilities, and configuration state. This dynamic adaptation enables minimal yet sufficient parameter inclusion for each scenario, improving efficiency without creating fixed complex structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where the UE reports its configuration state and capabilities to the network node. This feedback enables the network to intelligently determine which parameters need to be explicitly signaled versus which can be inferred, reducing signaling overhead while keeping the UE's processing complexity manageable through standardized feedback protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If all configuration parameters are always signaled, then parameter reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter configuration reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter signaling approach from static (all parameters always included) to dynamic (parameters selected based on transmission mode and configuration state). This allows the system to maintain parameter reliability for active configurations while reducing network resource consumption by excluding unnecessary parameters from the signaling packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3714652B1An efficient control signaling method and system
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 ZTE CORP
  • EP3714652B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3714652B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3714652B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Reducing control signaling is an effective technique for increasing resource efficiency when supporting a massive number of connections in an Internet of Things framework. In the presence of sporadic and small data packets, the use of control signaling must be optimized to not overwhelm network resources. In some embodiments, a bit map in a control signaling packet may indicate if certain information elements that correspond to configuration parameters are present or absent. When they are absent, predetermined values for the corresponding configuration parameters may be used, whereas when they are present, predefined values from a set of predefined values may be used. In other embodiments, the predetermined values may be periodically updated.