Multi-Cell DCI Scheduling Through Terminal Cell Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downlink control information (DCI) systems are inadequate for scheduling data in multiple cells, leading to increased control message overhead and inefficiencies in wireless communication networks.
Innovation Solution
Introduce Multi-Cell Downlink Control Information (MC-DCI) to schedule data across multiple cells, utilizing association relationships between DCI relevant information and cells, and employing RNTIs, resources, and indication information to determine and indicate the cells scheduled by MC-DCI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a single DCI is used to schedule data in multiple cells (MC-DCI), then control message overhead is reduced, but the terminal needs new mechanisms to determine which cells are scheduled
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal determines the scheduled cells by itself using self-service mechanisms. It uses the association between relevant MC-DCI information (such as RNTI, resource allocation) and cell information (such as cell group, cell index) that has been pre-configured or previously signaled, without requiring additional network signaling for each scheduling decision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary association relationship between MC-DCI relevant information and cell information. This association acts as a mediator that connects the control information to the scheduled cells, allowing the terminal to decode which cells are scheduled without direct explicit signaling from the network for each scheduling instance.
2Ease of operation
If indication information is added to MC-DCI to specify scheduled cells, then cell identification becomes straightforward, but DCI size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding new indication fields to MC-DCI, the patent reuses existing DCI fields (such as carrier indication field, resource allocation fields) and associates them with multiple cells through the intermediary association relationship. This copying approach allows the same DCI structure to indicate multiple cells without increasing DCI size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing DCI fields multi-functional by associating them with multiple cells. For example, a single carrier indication field value can correspond to multiple cells through the association relationship, allowing one field to serve multiple purposes and indicate multiple scheduled cells without requiring additional fields.
Data Source
AI summary
A cell determination method, performed by a terminal, includes: receiving downlink control information for scheduling multiple cells (MC-DCI); and determining a cell scheduled by the MC-DCI according to indication information sent by a network device. A downlink control information sending method, performed by a network device, includes: sending indication information to a terminal, wherein the indication information is used for a terminal to determine a cell scheduled by MC-DCI that is sent to the terminal; and sending the MC-DCI to the terminal.