LC-MTC Uplink Control Collision Handling via Timing Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Machine type communication (MTC) devices operating in coverage enhancement mode experience frequent collisions between Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmissions due to high repetition rates, which affects spectrum efficiency and requires innovative collision handling mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The MTC UE employs collision handling techniques such as adjusting transmission timing, piggybacking PUCCH onto PUSCH, pausing PUSCH transmission to allow PUCCH, and joint encoding to manage collisions effectively, ensuring reliable data and control information transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high repetition rates are used for coverage enhancement, then coverage is improved, but collision between PUCCH and PUSCH transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecoverageVSAvoidcollision between PUCCH and PUSCH
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic collision handling by adjusting transmission parameters based on detected collisions. When PUCCH and PUSCH repetitions are detected to collide, the system dynamically modifies the transmission scheme by pausing PUSCH repetitions or adjusting timing, thereby adapting the transmission behavior to avoid harmful interference while maintaining coverage enhancement benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary collision detection by comparing repetition patterns and timing of PUCCH and PUSCH before transmissions occur. By detecting potential collisions in advance and determining collision patterns, the system can proactively adjust transmission parameters to prevent harmful interference rather than reacting after damage occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If PUCCH and PUSCH are repeated for coverage enhancement, then reliability is improved, but spectrum efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage enhancementVSAvoidspectrum efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial repetition by transmitting only the necessary number of PUSCH repetitions before pausing to transmit PUCCH repetitions. Instead of continuously repeating both channels independently, the system performs partial PUSCH repetitions, then pauses to complete PUCCH transmissions, thereby reducing total repetition overhead while maintaining required reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges PUCCH and PUSCH transmissions by coordinating their repetition patterns and timing. When collisions are detected, the system combines the transmission schedules to ensure both control and data information are transmitted reliably without excessive redundancy, thereby improving spectrum efficiency while maintaining coverage enhancement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If PUSCH transmission is paused to allow PUCCH, then collision is reduced, but transmission time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision reductionVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic transmission patterns where PUSCH repetitions are paused at predetermined intervals to allow PUCCH repetitions to transmit. This periodic structure creates regular transmission cycles that balance collision avoidance with time efficiency, preventing excessive delays while ensuring control information is transmitted reliably

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3286963B1Methods and apparatuses for preventing collision among uplink control messages for LC-MTC devices
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP3286963B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3286963B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3286963B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one example embodiment, the machine type communication device includes a processor configured to determine whether a first uplink control channel and a second uplink control channel will collide during a transmission from the machine type communication device to the communication network, and adjust the transmission of the second uplink control channel relative to the first uplink control channel if the processor determines that the first and second control channels will collide.