Multi-Cell Scheduling via Unified DCI and Cell Grouping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently scheduling physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) across multiple cells, leading to increased complexity and control overhead, particularly in 5G new radio (NR) systems with fragmented and wider bandwidth spectrums.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of mechanisms for channel state information (CSI) reporting, A-CSI multiplexing, CSI report configuration, UL-SCH indicator, DAI, beta offset indicator, and SRS request for multi-cell scheduling, along with cell grouping and DCI design to reduce control overhead and enhance spectral/power efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-cell scheduling is implemented to increase throughput and coverage, then spectral efficiency and coverage are improved, but control overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cell scheduling operations into a unified framework where a single DCI can schedule multiple cells simultaneously. Cell grouping mechanisms merge cells into groups that share common scheduling parameters, reducing the number of separate control messages needed and thereby decreasing control overhead while maintaining high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduling mechanism is designed to be universal across multiple cells, allowing a single scheduling entity to manage multiple cells with different bandwidths and configurations. The DCI format is made multi-functional to support both single-cell and multi-cell scheduling, reducing the need for cell-specific control procedures.
2Productivity
If multi-cell scheduling is implemented to enhance coverage and throughput, then system performance is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scheduling information for multiple cells into a single DCI message. By combining cell group identifiers, resource allocation parameters, and modulation and coding scheme indicators into one unified control message, the system reduces the total number of separate signaling transmissions required, thereby reducing control overhead while maintaining comprehensive scheduling capability.
3Device complexity
If separate scheduling is used for each cell to maintain simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but spectral efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scheduling process into hierarchical levels: cell groups are formed as first-level segments sharing common parameters, while individual cells within groups are second-level segments with cell-specific parameters. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity through structured division while achieving spectral efficiency gains through coordinated multi-cell scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of organization by grouping cells together and assigning group-level identifiers and parameters. This adds a hierarchical layer to the scheduling structure, transforming the flat single-cell scheduling approach into a multi-dimensional framework that achieves spectral efficiency through group coordination while managing complexity through structured organization.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-readable storage medium stores instructions to configure a UE for multi-cell scheduling in a 5G NR network, and to cause the UE to perform operations including decoding higher layer signaling. The higher layer signaling indicates a number of cell groups configured to the UE. Each cell group of the number of cell groups includes at least two cells. DCI received in a PDCCH is decoded. The DCI includes a scheduling grant with time and frequency allocation for a PUSCH or a PDSCH in the number of cell groups configured to the UE. Uplink data transmissions via the PUSCH are scheduled in the number of cell groups or downlink data receptions via the PDSCH are scheduled in the number of cell groups based on the scheduling grant.