Multi-TRP Scheduling Request Segmentation for NR Link Robustness

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Solution Overview

Problem

The New Radio (NR) protocol does not allow multiple transmission reception points (TRPs) to serve a terminal simultaneously in the same time-domain resource, limiting flexibility in base station deployment and increasing link delay, while also requiring enhanced signaling mechanisms for efficient communication between TRPs without ideal backhaul.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining and sending scheduling request (SR) information or buffer state information using multiple scheduling request resources, logical channel groups, and SR configuration groups across multiple TRPs, allowing for independent scheduling and improved channel state information feedback to enhance link robustness and spectral efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple TRPs serve one terminal simultaneously in the same time-domain resource, then link robustness and spectral efficiency are improved, but the NR protocol does not allow this configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink robustnessVSAvoidbase station deployment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SR mechanism by allowing one SRID to correspond to multiple PUCCH resources in different BWPs or CCs, enabling independent scheduling requests to multiple TRPs. It also segments buffer states by allowing one LCG to correspond to multiple buffer states at different TRPs, enabling independent buffer management for each TRP connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the SR and buffer state mechanisms from a single TRP dimension to multiple TRP dimensions. By allowing multiple PUCCH resources and multiple buffer states to be associated with the same SRID and LCG respectively, the system enables multi-TRP operation without requiring separate SR configurations for each TRP.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple TRPs schedule one user independently, then deployment flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the SR mechanism universal by allowing one SRID to serve multiple TRPs through association with multiple PUCCH resources. Similarly, one LCG can serve multiple TRPs through association with multiple buffer states. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate SR configurations for each TRP, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the SR configurations across multiple TRPs by allowing one SRID to correspond to multiple PUCCH resources in different BWPs or CCs. It also merges buffer state management by allowing one LCG to correspond to multiple buffer states at different TRPs, reducing the total number of separate signaling configurations needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If one LCG corresponds to only one buffer state, then the mechanism is simple, but it cannot support multiple TRPs serving one terminal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-TRP support capabilityVSAvoidbuffer state configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the buffer state association by allowing one LCG to correspond to multiple buffer states at different TRPs. Each buffer state can be independently configured and managed, enabling the system to track and manage data buffers for multiple TRP connections simultaneously while maintaining logical organization through the LCG grouping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If one SRID corresponds to only one PUCCH resource, then the mechanism is simple, but it cannot enable independent scheduling with multiple TRPs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent scheduling capabilityVSAvoidSR configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PUCCH resource association by allowing one SRID to correspond to multiple PUCCH resources in different BWPs or CCs. This segmentation enables the terminal to send scheduling requests to multiple TRPs simultaneously using different PUCCH resources, achieving independent scheduling capability while maintaining SRID as the primary identification mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240297768A1Method and apparatus for transmitting information

Publication Date: 2024.09.05 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Provided are an information transmission method and apparatus. The method includes acquiring, according to one of a second type of information or a third type of information, the other one of the second type of information or the third type of information; or transmitting one piece of first signaling information including the second type of information and the third type of information. The second type of information includes at least one of a downlink control channel resource group, an uplink control channel resource group, a process number set, a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state group, a spatial relation information group or an antenna group.