Unified MAC-CE Command for Multi-CC TCI Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communications systems face increased signaling overhead due to the need for multiple medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) messages to configure transmission configuration indicators (TCI) for multiple component carriers (CCs), especially when CCs are spatially quasi-co-located, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and communication reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that reduce signaling overhead by using a single MAC-CE command to select a TCI state or set of active TCI states for multiple CCs or bandwidth parts (BWPs), allowing the UE to determine and apply the configuration for communication based on a control message from the base station, thereby optimizing resource allocation and communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate MAC-CE messages are used to configure TCI states for each component carrier, then each CC can be individually configured, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate MAC-CE messages into a single unified MAC-CE message that can configure TCI states for multiple component carriers simultaneously. This merging approach maintains the ability to individually configure each CC while reducing the total number of messages transmitted, thereby resolving the contradiction between individual configuration capability and signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified MAC-CE message structure is designed to serve multiple component carriers with a single message, making the configuration mechanism universal across multiple CCs. This multi-functionality allows the same message format to configure different CCs with their respective TCI states, reducing signaling overhead while preserving individual CC adaptability.
2Reliability
If multiple MAC-CE messages are transmitted for TCI configuration, then comprehensive coverage of all CCs is achieved, but communication latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple sequential MAC-CE transmissions into a single unified message, the patent eliminates the time required for multiple separate transmissions and processing cycles. This approach maintains comprehensive configuration coverage for all CCs while significantly reducing the total time required for configuration, thereby resolving the contradiction between configuration completeness and latency.
3Measurement precision
If individual TCI configuration is applied to each CC, then spatial quasi-co-location accuracy is maintained, but resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the configuration process for multiple CCs into a single MAC-CE message while preserving the individual TCI state assignments for each CC. This allows the system to maintain accurate spatial quasi-co-location relationships for each CC individually while improving resource allocation efficiency by reducing the number of separate configuration messages and processing steps required.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may identify an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, a set of active TCI states, and/or a spatial relation reference signal identifier to be used for one or more component carriers (CCs) of a UE. The base station may then transmit a control message to the UE that may indicate the identified active TCI state, set of active TCI states, and/or spatial relation reference signal identifier to be used for one or more CCs and/or bandwidth parts of the UE. The UE may determine a communication configuration for a CC of the plurality of CC based on the control message and an optional shared command indication. The UE may the apply the TCI state or set of active TCI states to a subset of CCs, or UE may configure sounding reference signals for a subset of CCs.