Joint DCI Encoding for 14 HARQ Processes in eMTC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HARQ-ACK delay support for 14 HARQ processes in wireless communication systems requires additional bits in DCI, leading to increased complexity and potential degradation in scheduling performance, while existing solutions fail to efficiently manage HARQ process IDs and retransmissions without expanding the DCI size.
Innovation Solution
Joint encoding of DCI fields to support additional HARQ-ACK delay values without increasing the size of the DCI, by determining HARQ-ACK delay values based on the number of HARQ processes configured at the user equipment and downlink control information received from the network node, utilizing a joint encoded state table to generate index values indicating HARQ-ACK delays and PDSCH offsets for 14 HARQ processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional bits are added to DCI to support HARQ-ACK delays for 14 HARQ processes, then the system can support more HARQ processes with appropriate delays, but the DCI size increases leading to increased complexity and potential degradation in scheduling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple DCI fields (PDSCH offset field, HARQ-ACK delay field, and HARQ process number field) into a single joint encoded field. This merging allows the system to convey multiple parameters (PDSCH offset, HARQ-ACK delay, and HARQ process number) using a unified encoding scheme that utilizes the existing DCI bit structure, thereby supporting 14 HARQ processes without increasing the overall DCI size.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint encoded field serves multiple functions simultaneously: it encodes the PDSCH offset, HARQ-ACK delay, and HARQ process number. This multi-functionality allows the DCI to convey comprehensive scheduling information for 14 HARQ processes using a single field, eliminating the need for additional separate fields and maintaining DCI size efficiency.
2Reliability
If DCI size is increased to support HARQ-ACK delays, then more HARQ processes can be managed, but scheduling performance may deteriorate due to larger control information overhead
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the PDSCH offset field, HARQ-ACK delay field, and HARQ process number field into a single joint encoded field, the patent reduces the total number of separate fields in DCI. This consolidation maintains compact DCI structure, minimizing control information overhead and preventing degradation in scheduling performance while ensuring reliable management of 14 HARQ processes.
3Device complexity
If existing DCI bit fields are used without expansion, then DCI size remains constant, but it becomes difficult to convey additional HARQ-ACK delay values for 14 HARQ processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the encoding parameters of the DCI fields by implementing joint encoding. Instead of using separate binary encodings for PDSCH offset, HARQ-ACK delay, and HARQ process number, the system employs a unified joint encoding scheme that reorganizes how these parameters are represented in the DCI bit structure. This parameter change enables the conveyance of additional HARQ-ACK delay values for 14 HARQ processes while maintaining the same DCI size.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint encoding approach introduces a new dimensional organization of the DCI fields. Rather than treating PDSCH offset, HARQ-ACK delay, and HARQ process number as independent one-dimensional fields, the patent creates a multi-dimensional encoding space where these parameters are interlinked. This dimensional reorganization allows more information to be packed into the existing bit structure, supporting 14 HARQ processes without expansion.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided for joint encoding of downlink control information (DCI) fields to support hybrid automatic request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) delays for more than 10 HARQ processes (e.g., 14 HARQ processes) at a user equipment. In an example implementation, the method may include a user equipment (UE) determining a number of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes configured at the UE and determining a HARQ acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) delay value based at least on the number of HARQ processes configured at the UE and downlink control information (DCI) received from a network node.