MAC-CE Activation Timing via ACK Interruption Detection

The patent implements dynamic behavior where the MAC-CE activation timing adapts based on whether the ACK transmission is interrupted. When interrupted by higher priority traffic like URLLC, the system dynamically adjusts the activation time to be earlier (at the interruption point) rather than waiting for the original ACK transmission to complete. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing latency reduction when interruptions occur while maintaining reliability through defined fallback behavior.

The patent changes the timing parameter for MAC-CE activation based on the ACK transmission status. When an interruption is detected, the activation time parameter is changed to reference the interruption point rather than the original ACK end point. This parameter change enables the system to achieve lower latency in interruption scenarios while maintaining reliable operation through standardized handling of the timing change.

The patent applies universality by creating a unified timing determination mechanism that works for both multiplexed and non-multiplexed ACK transmissions. The same principle (using the last symbol of the ACK transmission or its interruption point) applies regardless of whether other control information is multiplexed with the ACK. This universal approach simplifies the system by avoiding separate handling logic for different transmission types.

The patent uses feedback from the actual ACK transmission status (including whether it was multiplexed and whether it was interrupted) to determine the MAC-CE activation timing. The receiving entity detects the ACK transmission characteristics and provides this information to determine the appropriate activation time, creating a feedback loop that resolves the timing determination complexity through observed rather than predetermined rules.

The patent implements a dynamic timing determination approach where the ending symbol is determined based on actual transmission conditions rather than fixed scheduled timing. When the ACK transmission is interrupted, the ending symbol is updated to reflect the actual interruption point. This dynamic adjustment improves measurement precision by matching the timing to actual events while maintaining ease of operation through standardized detection and handling procedures.

The patent prepares multiple possible timing reference points in advance (scheduled ACK end symbol, actual ACK end symbol, interruption point) and selects the appropriate one based on detected conditions. This preliminary preparation of multiple options allows the system to maintain operational simplicity through predefined choices while achieving measurement precision by selecting the most accurate reference point based on actual transmission conditions.