MCS Table Entries for Explicit TBS Control in 5G NR

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G NR, achieving a desired transport block size (TBS) is challenging due to difficulties in maintaining spectral efficiency and scheduler flexibility, which is not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

Introducing a new modulation and coding scheme (MCS) entry in the MCS lookup table that explicitly indicates a desired TBS, allowing for flexible resource allocation without compromising performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a new MCS entry explicitly indicating desired TBS is introduced, then TBS achievement capability is improved, but MCS table complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTBS achievement capabilityVSAvoidMCS table complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MCS table is segmented into different types of entries: conventional MCS entries that rely on spectral efficiency calculations, and new explicit TBS MCS entries that directly specify desired TBS values. This segmentation allows the system to maintain existing conventional entries while adding specific entries for precise TBS control, thereby improving TBS achievement capability without uniformly increasing the complexity of the entire MCS table.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than changing the entire MCS table structure, the invention applies local quality by introducing specific MCS entries with explicit TBS indications only where needed. These specialized entries coexist with conventional entries, allowing precise TBS control for specific scenarios while leaving other MCS entries unchanged, thus minimizing overall table complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If explicit TBS indication is implemented, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The explicit TBS indication is merged into the existing MCS entry structure rather than being transmitted as separate signaling. The TBS information is combined with modulation and coding scheme parameters in a unified MCS table entry, allowing resource allocation flexibility to be improved without proportionally increasing signaling overhead, as the information is conveyed through the existing MCS indication mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The MCS table entries are designed to serve multiple functions: they indicate modulation order, coding rate, and now explicitly specify desired TBS values. This multi-functionality allows a single MCS indication to convey multiple pieces of information simultaneously, improving resource allocation flexibility while minimizing additional signaling overhead by reusing the existing MCS signaling framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3791497B1Direct transport block size specification
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3791497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3791497B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3791497B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for wireless communication. An exemplary method generally includes receiving an indication of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) to use for transmitting information, wherein the indication of the MCS indicates an MCS index value corresponding to an entry in an MCS lookup table, determining, based on the MCS index value, a transport block size (TBS) to use for transmitting the information, wherein determining the TBS comprises receiving an explicit indication of the TBS to use for transmitting the information, and transmitting the information using the MCS and TBS.