Group-Based Scheduling for LTE PDCCH Resource Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited number of control signaling transmissions on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) in LTE systems restricts the number of scheduled data packets and user equipment (UEs), leading to reduced system capacity and inefficient resource utilization, especially with the increasing demand for small packet services.
Innovation Solution
A group-based scheduling method where data packets from multiple UEs are encapsulated into a single Media Access Control Protocol Data Unit (MAC PDU) and scheduled using a group scheduling identity, allowing more UEs to be scheduled with a single control signaling transmission, thereby improving PDCCH utilization efficiency and system capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control signaling is transmitted individually for each UE on PDCCH, then scheduling accuracy and reliability are improved, but system capacity and resource utilization deteriorate due to limited PDCCH resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual control signaling transmissions into a single group-based control signaling transmission. The network device groups multiple UEs and transmits their scheduling information together in one PDCCH message, reducing the total number of PDCCH transmissions required while maintaining scheduling reliability for each UE through individualized resource allocation within the group context.
Solution Approach 2:
The group-based control signaling serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides scheduling information for multiple UEs, maintains individual UE identification and resource allocation, and reduces overall control channel overhead. This multi-functional approach allows a single PDCCH transmission to replace multiple individual transmissions.
2Reliability
If small packet services are transmitted using individual MAC PDUs, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates due to padding bits occupying unused space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple small data packets from different UEs into a single MAC PDU structure. By aggregating these small packets, the MAC PDU is fully utilized without requiring padding bits, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency while maintaining transmission accuracy through proper packet identification and individualized acknowledgment mechanisms.
3Productivity
If more UEs are scheduled simultaneously on PDCCH, then system capacity is improved, but control signaling overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large group of UEs into smaller sub-groups or uses hierarchical identification structures within the group-based control signaling. This segmentation approach allows the system to schedule more UEs simultaneously while managing complexity by organizing them in a structured manner that simplifies processing and acknowledgment.
Solution Approach 2:
The group-based control signaling acts as an intermediary mechanism between individual UE scheduling requests and the PDCCH resource allocation. It provides a structured framework that mediates between the need to schedule multiple UEs and the constraint of limited PDCCH resources, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a group-based scheduling method, UE and network device. The method comprises: obtaining, by a UE, a group scheduling identity, wherein the group scheduling identity is used for indicating a group scheduled by a control signalling on a PDCCH; receiving, by the UE, scrambled control signalling on the PDCCH, and decoding the scrambled control signalling according to the group scheduling identity; receiving, by the UE, a MAC PDU according to the decoded control signalling, wherein the MAC PDU comprises a data packet of at least one UE in one group; and obtaining, by the UE, a PUCCH feedback resource position corresponding to a position of a data packet of the UE according to a corresponding relation between a position of the data packet of the at least one UE in the MAC PDU and the PUCCH feedback resource position, and sending ACK feedback information at the corresponding PUCCH feedback resource position. The embodiments of the present invention can improve resource utilization and system capacity.