Modular Tree Control Channel for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control channel structures in wireless communication systems, such as LTE, face inefficiencies in creating and managing control signaling for short sub-frame periods, particularly in adapting to changing radio conditions and supporting multiple users with varying data rates, due to limitations in dynamic range and hardware constraints.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a modular control channel structure organized as a tree, where each node represents known sub-carrier resources, allowing for efficient search and decoding processes, parallelization of searches, and power balancing across sub-carriers, enabling flexible allocation of resources and variable information block lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional control channel structure is used, then the system maintains simplicity in implementation, but it cannot efficiently support multiple users with varying data rates and changing radio conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to varying data rates and radio conditionsVSAvoidcomplexity of control channel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel is segmented into multiple code blocks of different sizes, organized in a tree structure where each node represents a code block. This segmentation allows the system to divide the control channel into appropriate segments based on user requirements, supporting multiple users with varying data rates while maintaining manageable complexity through hierarchical organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control channel structure is made dynamic by allowing variable information block lengths and enabling the system to adaptively select code block sizes based on changing radio conditions and user requirements. The tree structure permits dynamic allocation where code blocks can be combined or divided to match the specific needs of each user, providing versatility without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the control channel uses fixed-size code blocks, then the implementation is simpler, but it cannot efficiently utilize sub-carrier resources or provide frequency diversity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of sub-carrier resource usageVSAvoidcomplexity of search and decoding processes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the control channel into code blocks of different sizes organized in a tree structure, the system can efficiently utilize sub-carrier resources by matching code block sizes to the specific requirements of each user. This segmentation allows flexible allocation that improves resource utilization efficiency while the hierarchical tree structure manages the complexity of search and decoding through organized progression from root to leaf nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of code block size to optimize sub-carrier resource usage. By allowing variable information block lengths and selecting appropriate code block sizes from the tree structure, the system adapts to different resource requirements, improving productivity while the structured approach to parameter selection keeps implementation complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive coding is applied to expand dynamic range, then the control channel can support varying data rates, but the complexity of managing multiple coding formats increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic range of control channelVSAvoidcomplexity of managing coding formats
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tree structure segments different coding formats into hierarchical levels, where each node represents a specific code block size and coding format. This segmentation allows the system to support varying data rates through adaptive coding while managing complexity by organizing formats in a structured hierarchy, making selection and implementation more systematic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tree structure serves as a universal framework that can accommodate multiple coding formats and information block lengths. This multi-functional structure allows the system to support varying data rates and different coding schemes within a single unified framework, reducing the overall complexity compared to managing separate structures for each coding format.

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

4Speed

If the control channel is allocated in short sub-frame periods, then the system responds faster to changing conditions, but the amount of control signaling that can be transmitted is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse time to changing radio conditionsVSAvoidamount of control signaling transmitted
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel is segmented into code blocks of different sizes that can be transmitted within short sub-frame periods. By using variable-length code blocks organized in a tree structure, the system can fit appropriate amounts of control signaling into brief transmission windows, maintaining fast response times while efficiently utilizing the available transmission capacity to maximize the amount of signaling transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the size and number of code blocks transmitted in each sub-frame based on current conditions. This dynamic allocation allows the control channel to respond quickly to changing radio conditions by selecting appropriate code block sizes from the tree structure, while simultaneously optimizing the use of available transmission time to maximize the quantity of control signaling delivered within each short sub-frame period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3435573B1Shared control channel structure
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3435573B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3435573B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3435573B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shared control channel structure includes at least one control channel to be allocated at least to a user for at least one of uplink and downlink directions in a network, which the at least one control channel is arranged as at least a part of a modular structure comprising of modular code blocks on at least two different sizes. One of such modular structures may be represented as a tree structure in particular, where each of the modular code blocks define one node of the tree, respectively.