Multi-Cell DCI Sizing for Lower Carrier Aggregation Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face high DCI overheads due to the inability of a single piece of DCI to schedule UL or DL data from multiple cells, leading to increased complexity and resource inefficiency in carrier aggregation scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining and sending DCI that allows scheduling across multiple cells by calculating a target size based on a target cell and bandwidth part combination, reducing blind detection complexity and overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single piece of DCI schedules only one cell, then the DCI format is simple and easy to decode, but the DCI overhead increases significantly in carrier aggregation scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cell scheduling functions into a single DCI format. Specifically, it combines the scheduling information for multiple cells (including cell identification, resource allocation, and modulation and coding scheme) into one unified DCI structure, allowing a single DCI to schedule multiple cells simultaneously rather than requiring separate DCI for each cell
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal DCI format that can schedule multiple cells with different configurations. The DCI includes a cell indication field that identifies which cells are being scheduled, and resource allocation fields that can accommodate different bandwidth parts and resource configurations across multiple cells, making the DCI structure multi-functional and adaptable to various carrier aggregation scenarios
2Quantity of substance
If multi-cell scheduling is implemented using mc-DCI, then DCI overhead is reduced and resource efficiency improves, but the complexity of determining DCI size across different cell and BWP combinations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of the DCI size based on pre-configured cell and bandwidth part combinations. The terminal device determines the DCI size in advance by referencing the configured cell combination and BWP combination information, rather than calculating it dynamically during reception. This preliminary action simplifies the decoding process and reduces computational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages DCI size variations by changing parameters related to cell and bandwidth part configurations. The network configures specific cell combinations and BWP combinations, and the terminal determines DCI size based on these configured parameters. This approach allows the system to handle different DCI sizes for different cell-BWP combinations while maintaining a structured and manageable determination process
3Reliability
If blind detection is performed for all possible cell and BWP combinations, then complete coverage is achieved, but the terminal complexity and processing load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blind detection process by organizing cell and bandwidth part configurations into discrete, pre-configured combinations. Instead of performing blind detection across all possible individual cell and BWP variations, the terminal performs detection on a segmented set of configured combinations, significantly reducing the search space and processing requirements while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces configured cell and BWP combination information as an intermediary between the network and the terminal's blind detection process. The network provides this configuration information that acts as a mediator, guiding the terminal's detection efforts toward specific, relevant combinations rather than requiring exhaustive blind detection across all possibilities. This intermediary structure reduces terminal complexity while ensuring reliable scheduling coverage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for determining a size of downlink control information (DCI), a method and apparatus for sending DCI, and a related device, which belongs to the technical field of communication. The method includes: determining, by a terminal, a target size based on a target cell combination and a target bandwidth part (BWP) combination, where the target size includes at least one first size, and the first size includes at least one of the following: a first DCI size and a size of a field in first DCI; and the first DCI is DCI that can be used to schedule a plurality of cells or a plurality of carriers, the target BWP combination includes at least one BWP combination, and the BWP combination includes a BWP or BWPs corresponding to one or more cells.