Multi-Beam PDCCH Repetition for Reliable Downlink Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PDCCH designs in wireless communication systems suffer from limited reliability due to a maximum duration of 3 symbols per CORESET, lack of multi-beam diversity, and non-supported PDCCH aggregation, which affects the robustness of downlink control information transmission.
Innovation Solution
Implementing PDCCH aggregation and multi-beam PDCCH reception by configuring multiple repetitions across different beams and symbols, allowing for enhanced reliability through independent encoding and self-decodable repetitions, with beam diversity and flexible repetition configurations via RRC, MAC-CE, or L1 DCI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PDCCH transmission uses a single beam with maximum 3 symbols per CORESET, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of beam diversity and limited coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The PDCCH transmission is segmented into multiple repetitions across different beams and time slots. Each repetition is independently encoded and can be decoded separately, allowing the system to divide the single transmission into multiple redundant transmissions that improve reliability without requiring the entire system to become more complex at once
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beam dimension to the PDCCH transmission by configuring multiple CORESETs with different beam directions. This adds a spatial dimension to the transmission, allowing the same control information to be sent through multiple beams, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing time or frequency resource consumption
2Reliability
If PDCCH aggregation is not supported, then device complexity remains low, but reliability deteriorates due to insufficient redundancy in control information transmission
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple PDCCH transmissions carrying the same control information are merged into an aggregation scheme where repetitions are combined across different beams and time slots. The UE can aggregate these repetitions to improve decoding reliability, effectively combining multiple weak signals into a stronger combined signal without requiring complex retransmission protocols
3Reliability
If single-beam PDCCH transmission is used, then signal processing is simplified, but reliability deteriorates in challenging signal conditions due to lack of beam diversity
Solution Approach 1:
Different beams are assigned to different spatial regions or propagation conditions, with each beam optimized for its local environment. The gNB can select appropriate beams based on UE location and channel conditions, providing locally optimized transmission quality without requiring all beams to be complex, thereby improving reliability in challenging conditions while managing overall system complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This disclosure describes the following enhancement to improve the PDCCH reliability: PDCCH aggregation and multi-beam PDCCH reception for a 5G wireless communication system. The disclosed techniques entail obtaining repeated PDCCH by processing a PDCCH-Config, ControlResourceSet, or SearchSpace configuration parameter including an information element (IE) indicating a number of consecutive slots in which the PDCCH is repeated. In another embodiment, a gNB generates the PDCCH-Config, ControlResourceSet, or SearchSpace configuration parameter for configuring a UE to receive the repeated PDCCH and employ the multi-beam PDCCH reception.