Multi-TTI Downlink Assignment for PDCCH Congestion Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional PDCCH allocation methods in LTE networks face congestion issues, particularly with an increasing number of UEs and Guaranteed Bit Rate services, leading to inefficiencies in scheduling and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a new Downlink Control Information (DCI) format that allows for a single downlink assignment to be applicable across multiple consecutive Transmit Time Intervals (TTIs), reducing the need for separate PDCCH transmissions and decoding in each TTI, and assigning the same physical resources for continuous data transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate PDCCH transmissions are sent in each TTI for downlink scheduling, then scheduling flexibility and reliability are improved, but PDCCH congestion and resource overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple downlink scheduling assignments into a single PDCCH transmission that covers multiple consecutive TTIs. Instead of sending separate PDCCH messages for each TTI, the network node transmits one aggregated scheduling message that allocates resources across multiple TTIs, thereby reducing the total number of PDCCH transmissions while maintaining scheduling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal downlink assignment message format that can serve multiple TTIs simultaneously. This multi-functional PDCCH transmission structure allows a single message to perform the scheduling function for multiple time intervals, reducing overhead while preserving the ability to schedule downlink data transmissions flexibly across different TTIs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple PDCCH transmissions are used to schedule UEs in consecutive TTIs, then scheduling adaptability is improved, but control channel resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple scheduling decisions into a single PDCCH transmission that spans multiple TTIs. By combining what would traditionally require separate PDCCH messages into one aggregated transmission, the system reduces control channel resource consumption while preserving scheduling adaptability through the multi-TTI validity mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous downlink data transmissions across multiple TTIs by establishing a single scheduling assignment that remains valid throughout the multi-TTI period. This continuous action approach eliminates the need for repeated PDCCH transmissions, reducing control channel resource consumption while maintaining uninterrupted data flow and scheduling flexibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate downlink assignments are transmitted for each TTI, then resource allocation precision is improved, but network overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fine-grained scheduling decisions into a single coarser-grained assignment that covers multiple TTIs. While individual TTI-level precision is reduced, the overall resource allocation precision is maintained through the structured format that still allows specific resource block assignments, while significantly reducing network overhead and scheduling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) allocation for improved downlink scheduling. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a network node in a cellular communications network comprises transmitting a downlink assignment to a wireless device, the downlink assignment comprising an indication of whether the downlink assignment applies to a single Transmit Time Interval (TTI) or multiple consecutive TTIs, and transmitting a downlink data transmission to the wireless device during a single TTI or multiple downlink data transmissions to the wireless device during multiple consecutive TTIs according to the downlink assignment. In this manner, the network node does not need to transmit, and the wireless device does not need to receive/decode, a separate downlink assignment in each TTI. This may be beneficial to, e.g., mitigate PDCCH congestion.