Terminal PUCCH Repetition With Multiple Spatial Relations

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Rel-15 NR, the user terminal (UE) is limited to applying a single spatial relation information (SRI) for Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission, which hinders efficient PUCCH repetitive transmission across multiple transmission/reception points, thereby suppressing communication throughput improvement.

Innovation Solution

The UE is equipped with a receiving section to process downlink control information (DCI) for multiple PUCCHs and a control section to manage transmission based on extended transmit power control (TPC) commands and spatial relation information (SRI), allowing for multiple SRIs to be applied during PUCCH repetition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single spatial relation information (SRI) is controlled to be activated for one PUCCH resource at a certain time in accordance with previous NR specifications, then the system maintains simple control structure, but the received quality of the PUCCH cannot be efficiently improved and spatial diversity gain cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceived quality of PUCCHVSAvoidcontrol structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the TPC command field into multiple independent fields, where each field corresponds to a specific SRI. This allows the system to control multiple SRIs independently for PUCCH repetition transmissions, improving received quality and spatial diversity gain while maintaining manageable control structure through systematic segmentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic SRI switching capability by enabling different SRIs to be applied in PUCCH repetition transmissions. The TPC command fields can dynamically indicate different spatial relations for different repetitions, allowing the system to adapt to changing channel conditions and achieve spatial diversity gain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If different SRIs are applied in PUCCH repetition, then spatial diversity gain and high rank transmission can be achieved, but the control structure becomes more complex requiring extended TPC command fields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication throughputVSAvoidcontrol structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The TPC command field is segmented into multiple independent sub-fields, with each sub-field corresponding to a specific SRI index. This segmentation enables the control structure to handle multiple SRIs systematically, allowing spatial diversity gain and high rank transmission while maintaining organized and manageable control complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extended TPC command field structure serves multiple functions: it can indicate power control adjustments and simultaneously indicate multiple SRI selections. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve spatial diversity and improved throughput without requiring separate signaling mechanisms, thereby managing control complexity efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4195792B1Terminal, radio communication method and base station
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4195792B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4195792B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4195792B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A terminal according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a receiving section that receives single downlink control information (DCI) for a plurality of physical uplink control channels (PUCCHs), and a control section that controls transmission of the PUCCHs based on an extended transmit power control (TPC) command field included in the DCI and spatial relation information (SRI) corresponding to an index associated with the TPC. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a preferable PUCCH repetitive transmission can be achieved.