MAC CE Grouping for Multi-Carrier Beam Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing overhead for multi-carrier beam selection and power control, particularly in scenarios involving multiple component carriers and beam failure recovery.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves using a Medium Access Control (MAC) control element (CE) to update pathloss reference signals and spatial relations for aperiodic or semi-persistent sounding reference signals across a group of component carriers, thereby reducing the overhead required for beam selection and power control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If separate MAC CEs are used to update pathloss reference signals for each component carrier, then beam selection accuracy is maintained, but signaling overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate MAC CE updates into a single unified MAC CE that simultaneously updates pathloss reference signals and spatial relations for a group of component carriers. This merging approach reduces the number of individual signaling messages while maintaining the precision of beam selection by preserving all necessary update information in the consolidated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified MAC CE structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it updates pathloss reference signals, updates spatial relations for aperiodic or semi-persistent sounding reference signals, and manages beam configurations across multiple component carriers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated messages for each update type.
2Device complexity
If individual beam configurations are maintained for each component carrier, then beam selection precision is preserved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments component carriers into logical groups that share common beam configurations and pathloss reference signals. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by treating groups as single units while still maintaining individual precision where needed, as each group can be updated independently through the unified MAC CE mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified MAC CE serves as a universal configuration mechanism that handles multiple component carriers and multiple types of updates (pathloss, spatial relations, beam configurations) through a single standardized structure, reducing the complexity of managing individual configurations for each carrier while preserving precision through the detailed information contained in each update field.
3Productivity
If frequent updates are sent for each component carrier, then power control responsiveness is improved, but network overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power control updates across multiple component carriers into a single MAC CE message, allowing frequent updates to be sent efficiently by consolidating all carrier-specific power control information into one transmission. This maintains responsiveness by enabling frequent updates while reducing overhead through the combined structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified MAC CE enables periodic power control updates to be transmitted efficiently for groups of component carriers, allowing the system to maintain responsive power control by sending updates at appropriate intervals without the cumulative overhead of individual carrier updates, as all updates are bundled in single periodic messages.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for overhead reduction for multi-carrier beam selection and power control. A user equipment device (UE) may receive an uplink beam configuration for a group of component carriers and may communicate using the uplink beam configuration for the group of component carriers. The UE may receive an updated uplink beam configuration for the group of component carriers. The update uplink beam configuration may include a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) that may update a pathloss reference signal for the group of component carriers. The MAC CE may include an indication of a spatial relation for aperiodic or semi-persistent sounding reference signals for the group of component carriers, an indication of a transmission control indicator for a physical downlink control channel, an indication of an update for a physical uplink shared channel, and/or an indication of an update for a sounding reference signal.