MPDCCH Search Space Configuration for BL/CE Multicast Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP Release-13 Bandwidth Reduced Low complexity/Coverage Enhancement (BL/CE) terminals and Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) terminals lack support for multicast transmission, specifically multicasting control channel transmission, which is not defined in the existing standards.
Innovation Solution
Configuring a separate downlink control channel search space for BL/CE terminals to receive and transmit multicasting control channel scheduling information, using higher layer signaling to configure the Machine Type Communication (MTC) physical downlink control channel (MPDCCH) search space, enabling the BL/CE terminals to support multicasting control channel transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If BL/CE terminals use standard LTE multicast transmission methods, then multicast service can be provided to typical LTE terminals, but BL/CE terminals cannot receive multicast control channel information due to lack of defined support in Release-13 standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control channel reception process by introducing a separate MPDCCH search space specifically for multicast control channel (SC-MCCH) information, distinct from the standard PDCCH search space used for unicast communications. This segmentation allows BL/CE terminals to independently search for and receive multicast control information without interference from standard LTE procedures, thereby enabling multicast support while maintaining reliable control channel reception for these specialized terminals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces higher layer signaling as an intermediary mechanism to configure the MPDCCH search space parameters for BL/CE terminals. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between the standard LTE physical layer protocols and the specialized requirements of BL/CE terminals, allowing flexible configuration of multicast control channel reception parameters without modifying the core LTE standard, thus enabling adaptability while maintaining protocol reliability
2Reliability
If a separate MPDCCH search space is configured for multicast control channel, then BL/CE terminals can receive scheduling control information effectively, but the device complexity increases due to additional search space configuration and management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the MPDCCH search space configuration universal by using higher layer signaling (RRC signaling) that can be applied to multiple BL/CE terminals simultaneously. The same configuration mechanism serves both unicast and multicast control information transmission, allowing the system to maintain a unified configuration approach across different terminal types and services, thereby reducing individual device complexity while ensuring reliable scheduling control information reception
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages complexity by dynamically changing search space parameters through higher layer signaling rather than hardcoding complex configurations in the physical layer. By allowing flexible parameter configuration (such as search space location, size, and timing) through RRC signaling, the system can adapt to different multicast service requirements without increasing fundamental device complexity, as terminals follow standardized procedures with configurable parameters
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method of supporting Single Cell Point-to-Multi-point (SC-PTM) for a Bandwidth reduced Low complexity/Coverage Enhancement (BL/CE) terminal or an NB-IoT terminal, which is for a Machine Type Communication (MTC) application defined in a 3 GPP LTE/LTE-A system. The method may include receiving configuration information relating to an MPDCCH search space from a base station, wherein the MPDCCH search space is separately configured to receive scheduling control information for the multicasting control channel; receiving the scheduling control information for the multicasting control channel through the MPDCCH search space configured based on the configuration information; and receiving the multicasting control channel based on the scheduling control information, wherein the configuration information is received through higher layer signaling.