Multi-Beam Control Channel Transmission Scheme

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-beam operation for 5G wireless communication systems, existing technologies face challenges in effectively transmitting common control messages, particularly in scenarios where beam sweeping and interference management are critical, leading to reduced system efficiency and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A transmission scheme that employs a dedicated physical channel or NR PDCCH with common search space to carry scheduling information for common control messages, along with multiplexing techniques such as FDM and TDM, to improve robustness and reduce UE receiver complexity, while utilizing shared DM-RS for channel estimation and minimizing blind decoding attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamforming is used to improve signal quality and reduce interference, then coverage range and signal strength are improved, but device complexity and receiver complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidreceiver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control message transmission into multiple parts across different beams and time slots. The control message is divided and transmitted through multiple beam directions, allowing the UE to receive and reconstruct the complete message while reducing the complexity of processing single high-gain beams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic beam sweeping where beams are transmitted in a periodic sequence across different directions. This periodic structure allows UEs to predict beam patterns and reduces receiver complexity by establishing regular reception intervals rather than continuous complex beam processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Area of stationary object

If beam sweeping is performed to cover multiple directions, then coverage area is improved, but transmission time and system efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent multiplexes control messages in the frequency domain by assigning different control messages to different frequency resources within the same time slot. This dimensional change from time-based to frequency-based multiplexing allows multiple control messages to be transmitted simultaneously, reducing the time required for beam sweeping while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple control message transmissions into a single time slot by using frequency-division multiplexing. Multiple control messages that would traditionally require separate time slots are merged into one transmission opportunity, significantly reducing the total transmission time while maintaining full directional coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple control messages are transmitted in the same time slot, then system efficiency is improved, but interference between messages increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns different frequency resources to different control messages within the same time slot, creating local quality differentiation in the frequency domain. Each control message occupies a specific frequency band, which isolates them from each other and reduces mutual interference while allowing simultaneous transmission for improved system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If UE performs blind decoding to find control messages, then adaptability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage reception flexibilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides preliminary scheduling information that indicates to UEs which time slots and frequency resources will contain control messages. This preliminary information allows UEs to skip blind decoding in slots without control messages and focus only on indicated resources, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to receive various control messages adaptively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11291078B2Transmission scheme for common control message with multi-beam operation

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 APPLE INC

AI summary

Techniques discussed herein can facilitate communication of common control messages via multi-beam operation. Embodiments discussed herein can include BSs (Base Stations) configured to transmit scheduling information associated with a common control message via a beamformed DL (Downlink) control channel in each symbol of two or more symbols of a slot, wherein the DL control channel is one of a dedicated physical channel or a NR (New Radio) PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel); and transmit the common control message via a DL data channel based at least in part on the scheduling information.