Terminal Feedback Resource Allocation in LTE Group Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems, particularly in LTE, the number of terminals scheduled by a base station is limited by the aggregation level of the PDCCH, leading to a lack of PUCCH resources for feedback information, which restricts the ability of some terminals to send feedback data to the base station, thereby degrading their feedback capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The method involves providing terminals with location information of reserved or implicit feedback resources, allowing them to use these resources for sending feedback information, thereby bypassing the limitations imposed by the PDCCH aggregation level, ensuring that all scheduled terminals can send feedback data without resource constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the base station uses PDCCH with limited aggregation level to schedule downlink data, then the control channel resource consumption is reduced, but the number of terminals that can send feedback information is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of terminals scheduledVSAvoidfeedback capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback resource allocation into two independent parts: PUCCH resource allocation is separated from PDCCH aggregation level constraints. The base station can allocate PUCCH resources independently based on terminal requirements, not limited by the PDCCH aggregation level, thus enabling more terminals to send feedback simultaneously without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mapping relationship as an intermediary between PDCCH scheduling and PUCCH feedback resources. This mapping mechanism allows the base station to establish correspondence between scheduled terminals and available PUCCH resources independently, decoupling the feedback resource allocation from the control channel aggregation level constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the base station increases the aggregation level of PDCCH to schedule more terminals, then the number of scheduled terminals increases, but the PUCCH resource availability for feedback decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of terminals scheduledVSAvoidPUCCH resource availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic PUCCH resource allocation where the base station can flexibly assign feedback resources based on the actual number of scheduled terminals and their feedback requirements. This dynamic allocation mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying numbers of terminals without being constrained by fixed aggregation level configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter relationship between PDCCH aggregation level and PUCCH resource allocation. Instead of a fixed one-to-one correspondence, the system allows independent configuration of both parameters, enabling the base station to optimize PUCCH resource distribution based on terminal needs rather than being bound by PDCCH aggregation constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the base station uses implicit feedback resource mapping based on PDCCH CCE index, then the feedback resource determination is simplified, but the feedback capability is limited by PDCCH aggregation level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback resource determination complexityVSAvoidfeedback capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds an additional dimension to feedback resource allocation by introducing explicit PUCCH resource configuration independent of PDCCH CCE indices. This dimensional expansion allows the system to allocate feedback resources based on terminal identification and scheduling information rather than being constrained by the one-dimensional implicit mapping, thereby enhancing feedback capability while maintaining manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2858446B1Method for transmitting feedback information for downlink data
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2858446B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2858446B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2858446B1 patent drawing

AI summary

This application provides a method for transmitting feedback information for downlink data, a terminal, and a base station. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal from a base station, DCI used for downlink data group scheduling and location information of a first feedback resource, where the DCI is used to indicate a scheduling condition of each terminal in a scheduling group to which the terminal belongs; receiving, by the terminal according to the DCI, downlink data sent by the base station; and sending, by the terminal according to the scheduling condition, feedback information for the downlink data by using the feedback resource indicated by the location information of the first feedback resource.