Scheduling Timing Determination for Mixed Numerology Wireless Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, determining scheduling timing or feedback timing becomes challenging when uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) subframes adopt different numerologies, as existing technologies fail to provide a clear indication for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) timing in such scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method and device are provided to determine scheduling timing or feedback timing by offering a granularity that corresponds to the numerology of UL and DL transmission resources, allowing for precise timing alignment through offset values and configuration of numerology parameters, enabling effective 5G New Radio (NR) scheduling design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UL and DL subframes adopt different numerologies to improve UL coverage or scheduling flexibility, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but the terminal cannot determine scheduling time granularity and HARQ timing, causing difficulty in detecting and measuring timing parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidtiming determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a reference numerology as an intermediary concept that mediates between UL and DL numerologies. The reference numerology provides a common time granularity basis that allows the terminal to determine scheduling timing and HARQ timing even when UL and DL use different numerologies. This intermediary reference frame enables timing determination without requiring UL and DL to use identical numerologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The reference numerology serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a common time base for both UL and DL scheduling, provides a universal granularity for timing determination, and enables HARQ timing calculation across different numerologies. This multi-functional reference framework resolves the timing determination difficulty while maintaining scheduling flexibility.

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

2Reliability

If UL transmission adopts smaller numerology to improve UL coverage, then reliability is improved, but the timing alignment between UL and DL becomes more complex, increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUL coverageVSAvoidtiming alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the timing determination process into two independent parts: UL timing determination based on UL numerology and DL timing determination based on DL numerology, with both referenced to a common reference numerology. This segmentation allows each direction to use its optimal numerology for coverage while the reference numerology provides the alignment framework, reducing the complexity of direct UL-DL timing alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3644676B1Information transmission method and apparatus for radio communication system
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 CHINA MOBILE COMM GRP CO LTD
  • EP3644676B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3644676B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3644676B1 patent drawingFigure 8~11

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method and a device for transmitting information in a wireless communication system. In the method for transmitting information in a wireless communication system provided by embodiments of the present disclosure, a granularity is provided, when uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) adopt different numerologies, and a corresponding timing is provided by taking the granularity as a unit, which provides a basis for scheduling design of 5G New Radio (NR).