Maximum-Layer RRC Signaling for Legacy UE Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy UEs are unable to successfully receive radio resource control (RRC) parameters indicating a maximum number of layers, leading to inefficiencies and compatibility issues in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
Introduce unambiguous signaling between networks and UEs to differentiate between legacy and non-legacy UEs, allowing non-legacy UEs to explicitly indicate their capability to read a maximum layer RRC parameter, enabling the network to send this parameter semi-statically and optimize hardware utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the network sends RRC parameters indicating maximum number of layers to all UEs, then non-legacy UEs can optimize hardware utilization, but legacy UEs cannot successfully receive these parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UE population into legacy and non-legacy categories based on capability to process RRC parameters. Non-legacy UEs are identified through explicit capability indication and receive the maximumLayers parameter, while legacy UEs follow traditional signaling paths without this parameter, ensuring each group receives appropriate signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new RRC parameter 'maximumLayers' that changes the signaling structure. This parameter is conditionally included in RRCReconfiguration messages based on UE capability, allowing the network to adapt the parameter set sent to each UE type, thereby optimizing hardware utilization for non-legacy UEs while maintaining compatibility with legacy UEs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network implements unambiguous signaling to differentiate legacy and non-legacy UEs, then non-legacy UEs can receive maximum layer parameter, but signaling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having non-legacy UEs explicitly indicate their capability to process RRC parameters during capability reporting or initial access. This pre-identification allows the network to prepare and send the maximumLayers parameter only to capable UEs, avoiding the need for complex runtime differentiation and reducing overall signaling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the UE capability indication as an intermediary mechanism. This capability flag acts as a mediator that translates UE hardware capabilities into a form the network can understand and act upon, enabling conditional parameter transmission without requiring the network to implement complex detection or classification logic.
3Productivity
If non-legacy UEs explicitly indicate capability to read maximum layer RRC parameter, then network can send parameter semi-statically, but capability indication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capability indication with existing UE capability reporting procedures or initial access signaling. By combining the maximumLayers capability indication with other mandatory capability reports, the patent avoids creating separate signaling overhead and achieves semi-static parameter transmission efficiency without significant additional overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, a user equipment (UE) may send a capabilities report to a base station. The capabilities report may include an explicit indication that the UE is capable of receiving a maximum layer radio resource control (RRC) parameter, or may include ambiguous (e.g., multiple) capabilities. The base station may receive the capabilities report, and may determine whether to transmit a maximum layer RRC parameter based on the explicit indication, or the ambiguous capabilities, which indicates a maximum number of layers to be used for subsequent communications. If the UE is capable of receiving the maximum layer RRC parameter, the base station may send the maximum layer RRC parameter to the UE, and may perform wireless communications according to the indicated maximum number of layers.