MAC CE Beam Update for 5G PUSCH Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G technology, determining physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) beams is challenging when the sounding reference signal (SRS) resource indicator (SRI) is not present, leading to inefficiencies in radio resource control (RRC) updates and power control parameter derivation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a non-Radio Resource Control (RRC) control element, such as a Media Access Control (MAC) control element (CE), to update sounding beams for data channel communications, allowing for transmission without relying on RRC configuration parameters, and deriving power control parameters from RRC configurations when a sounding beam is unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If RRC control elements are used to update sounding beams, then beam updates can be performed, but the update speed is slow and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces MAC Control Elements (MAC-CE) as an intermediary mechanism between the physical layer beamforming operations and the higher-layer RRC configuration. MAC-CE provides a middle-ground control plane that enables faster beam updates compared to RRC while maintaining proper protocol structure. The MAC-CE carries SRS beam update commands that allow dynamic beam switching without full RRC reconfiguration, thus resolving the contradiction between update speed and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam updating by allowing MAC-CE to modify sounding beam configurations on-the-fly without requiring static RRC reconfiguration. The system transitions from a static RRC-based beam configuration to a dynamic MAC-CE-based update mechanism, enabling real-time beam adaptation to changing channel conditions while maintaining configuration integrity through standardized MAC layer procedures.
2Productivity
If SRI is not present in fallback DCI, then power control parameters cannot be derived, but communication can proceed with default configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes preliminary beam configurations and power control parameter associations during initial RRC setup, creating a fallback mechanism that allows communication to proceed when SRI is absent. The system pre-configures default beams and their associated power control parameters so that when SRI is not present in fallback DCI, the UE can immediately use the pre-established configuration rather than stalling for SRI availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the UE to autonomously determine appropriate beams and power control parameters using available information without requiring explicit SRI indication. When SRI is absent, the UE self-determines the beam based on previously configured associations between SRS resources and power control parameter sets, allowing communication to proceed independently without network intervention for beam selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects described herein relate to configuring a media access control (MAC)-control element (CE) to update a sounding reference signal (SRS) beam within a wireless communication system. Other aspects described herein relate to configuring default beam information for determining a beam for data channel communications within the wireless communication system. A user equipment (UE) or other device can determine to use the default beam information for configuring the beam for a data channel communication and for performing power control using, e.g., physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) parameters. In addition, in some examples, the device can transmit the data channel communication using a beam configured based on the default beam information.