Multi-Slot PDCCH Monitoring With Search Space Set Group Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increase in subcarrier spacing in 5G New Radio (NR) networks above 52.6 GHz leads to a reduction in symbol duration, placing an unreasonable strain on user equipment (UE) processing resources during physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multi-slot PDCCH monitoring (MSM) with search space set group (SSSG) switching mechanisms, including Rel-16 and Rel-17 SSSG switching interactions, to optimize PDCCH monitoring efficiency and alleviate processing strain on UE resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If subcarrier spacing is increased to provide robustness to phase noise in 5G NR above 52.6 GHz, then phase noise robustness is improved, but symbol duration is reduced which places unreasonable strain on UE processing resources during PDCCH monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring task by introducing multi-slot PDCCH monitoring where the UE monitors PDCCH across multiple slots (e.g., 2, 4, or 8 slots) instead of requiring monitoring in every slot. This segmentation allows the UE to distribute processing load over time, reducing peak processing requirements while maintaining reliable detection capability for frequency range 2 operations with high subcarrier spacing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different search space set groups (SSSG0 and SSSG1) based on slot index and configuration parameters. The UE dynamically selects which search space set to monitor in each slot according to formulas involving slot index modulo operations, enabling adaptive monitoring patterns that reduce processing strain while maintaining phase noise robustness through appropriate search space configuration
2Productivity
If multi-slot PDCCH monitoring is implemented to improve monitoring efficiency, then PDCCH monitoring efficiency is improved, but UE processing resources are reduced which may impact monitoring capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates different search space sets into distinct groups (SSSG0 and SSSG1) with different monitoring characteristics. By configuring multiple search space sets with different periodicities, offsets, and slot configurations, the system allows the UE to select only the necessary search spaces to monitor in each slot, reducing overall processing requirements while maintaining monitoring efficiency through optimized search space placement and grouping
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) configured to receive configuration information for a first search space (SS) set of a first slot group for multi-slot physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring (MSM), receive configuration information for a second SS set of a second slot group for MSM, perform MSM based on the first SS set and switch from the first SS set to the second SS set using one of a first type of search space set group (SSSG) switching or a second type of SSSG switching.