Multiplexing Multicast Unicast Feedback Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in multiplexing multicast and unicast feedback, leading to potential collisions and wastage of resources, particularly in scenarios where UEs with varying channel metrics need to provide feedback.

Innovation Solution

The system configures different subsets of resources for UEs based on their channel metrics, allowing them to select and use specific resources for multicast feedback, and multiplexes unicast and multicast feedback within the same uplink transmission opportunity, using explicit indications or bitmaps to convey channel metric information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If all UEs use the same resources for multicast feedback transmission, then resource allocation is simple, but resource collisions increase and system reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation complexityVSAvoidfeedback transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback resources into multiple subsets (first subset and second subset) based on UE channel metrics. UEs with different channel conditions are assigned to different subsets, which reduces resource collisions and improves feedback transmission reliability while maintaining manageable allocation complexity through systematic segmentation rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different resource subsets to UEs based on their specific channel metrics. Each UE selects resources appropriate to its local channel conditions, ensuring that UEs with poor channel conditions use resources optimized for their situation, thereby improving overall system reliability without requiring complex centralized allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If resource subsets are differentiated by channel metrics, then feedback transmission reliability improves, but resource configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback transmission reliabilityVSAvoidresource configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple resource subsets with different characteristics before actual feedback transmission. The base station prepares these subsets in advance based on expected channel conditions, so UEs can quickly select appropriate resources without real-time complex calculations, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by varying resource characteristics (such as time-frequency resources, sequence patterns, or spatial parameters) across different subsets. These parameter variations are systematically designed to match different channel metric ranges, allowing reliable feedback transmission without requiring overly complex configuration structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple resource subsets are configured for different channel metrics, then resource utilization efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling UEs to dynamically select from pre-configured resource subsets based on their current channel conditions. This dynamic selection allows the system to adapt to changing channel states in real-time, improving resource utilization efficiency without requiring the base station to manage complex dynamic allocation, as the selection logic resides at the UE level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by empowering UEs to autonomously select appropriate resource subsets based on their own channel metrics without requiring complex centralized scheduling. Each UE independently determines which resource subset best matches its conditions and uses those resources, improving overall system efficiency while reducing base station complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4158816B1Multiplexing multicast and unicast feedback
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4158816B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4158816B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4158816B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that support multiplexing multicast and unicast feedback. A base station may provision different subsets of resources from a set of resources for multicast feedback message transmission based on channel metric(s) of a user equipment (UE). The set of resources may include a plurality of subsets of resources, with each subset of resources being associated with a corresponding channel metric or range of channel metrics associated with each UE receiving the multicast transmission. A UE may determine that a feedback indication is to be provided in response to the multicast transmission, and select a subset of resources from the plurality of subsets of resources based on its own channel metric. The UE may multiplex the multicast feedback, an indication of the selected subset, and unicast feedback in a multiplexed feedback transmission to the base station.