Multi-Terminal Scheduling Through Shared Time-Frequency Grants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face high downlink control signaling overhead in unicast scheduling due to separate scheduling for each terminal device, while multicast scheduling limits data diversity as all users transmit the same data, failing to meet individual user needs.

Innovation Solution

A terminal scheduling method that allows multiple terminals to be scheduled using a single piece of control information, where each terminal determines its unique time-frequency resource from a set of indicated resources, enabling differentiated data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If unicast scheduling is used to separately schedule resources for each terminal device, then each terminal can transmit different data, but the downlink control signaling overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission diversityVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple terminal schedules into a single group common grant, where one downlink control information (DCI) message schedules multiple terminals simultaneously. Each terminal determines its specific time-frequency resources from the group common grant based on its terminal identity, enabling different data transmission while using shared control signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If multicast scheduling is used to share one control signaling for multiple terminal devices, then control signaling overhead is reduced, but all users can only transmit the same data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol signaling overheadVSAvoiddata transmission diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the group common grant into multiple terminal-specific resource indications. Each terminal extracts its designated time-frequency resources from the shared grant based on terminal identity mapping, allowing individual data transmission while maintaining control signaling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate scheduling control signaling is sent for each user in unicast scheduling, then individual user needs are met, but resource overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-specific scheduling capabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the group common grant universal by enabling it to serve multiple terminals simultaneously. The single DCI message functions as a multi-terminal schedule, with each terminal identifying its specific resources through terminal identity-based mapping, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining user-specific scheduling capability.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3965507B1Terminal scheduling method, device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3965507B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3965507B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3965507B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present application provide a terminal scheduling method, a device, and a storage medium, including: a terminal receives control information sent by a scheduling device, the control information including multiple pieces of time-frequency resource information; the terminal determines a time-frequency resource from multiple time-frequency resources indicated by the multiple pieces of time-frequency resource information as a transmission resource of the terminal, and sends or receives data according to the transmission resource. Where multiple time-frequency resources indicated by the control information can be used by multiple terminals, so that the scheduling device is able to schedule multiple terminals through a piece of control information, thus saving the overheads of sending control signaling and enabling different transmission resources to be scheduled for different terminals through a control message.