Multi-Carrier QCL Reporting for Low-Overhead TCI Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communications systems face increased signaling overhead due to individual activation of Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state for each component carrier, reducing resources available for other messages.
Innovation Solution
A method where user equipment reports multiple component carriers or frequency bands sharing quasi co-location (QCL) information, allowing a base station to activate a TCI state across these carriers using a single signaling message, thereby reducing overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual TCI state activation is performed for each component carrier, then precise beam configuration is achieved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges TCI state activation across multiple component carriers by introducing a carrier indicator field (CIF) that enables a single MAC CE message to activate the same TCI state for multiple carriers simultaneously. This combining approach reduces the number of separate activation messages while maintaining precise beam configuration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal TCI state activation mechanism that can apply a single TCI state across multiple component carriers. The MAC CE message structure is designed to be multi-functional, supporting both individual carrier activation (when CIF is not used) and multi-carrier activation (when CIF is used), thereby reducing signaling overhead while preserving configuration precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple signaling messages are used for TCI state activation across multiple carriers, then complete carrier coverage is achieved, but downlink resources are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple TCI state activation messages into a single MAC CE message by incorporating a carrier indicator field (CIF) that identifies multiple component carriers. This merging reduces the quantity of downlink signaling resources consumed while ensuring complete coverage across all activated carriers through the multi-carrier activation capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a user equipment (UE) may indicate a group of component carriers (CCs) or frequency bands that share quasi co-location (QCL) information. For example, a base station may indicate a set of CCs to a UE. The UE may report, to the base station, a group of CCs, bandwidth parts (BWPs), or both that share a QCL property. For example, the report may include a list of CCs, frequency bands, BWPs, frequency ranges (FRs), or some combination thereof sharing the same QCL property, or the report may indicate whether the CCs in a band share the same QCL property. Based on this report, the base station may activate a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state at the UE, where the UE may activate the TCI state across the group of CCs, BWPs, or both sharing the same QCL property.