Narrowband PDCCH Reception Using Punctured CORESET #0
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of supporting narrowband wireless communication scenarios in 5G NR systems, particularly in bandwidths less than 5 MHz, is addressed to expand application use cases such as IoT, wearable devices, and specific network applications like railway and public safety, where existing terminals may not be able to receive all SSBs due to reduced maximum supported bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for transmitting and receiving a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system, involving the reception of a master information block (MIB) and physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) through resource blocks, with puncturing based on specific configurations to support narrowband scenarios, utilizing CORESET #0 and control channel elements (CCEs) to enhance compatibility with reduced bandwidths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the terminal reduces its maximum supported bandwidth to support narrowband scenarios, then cost and complexity are reduced, but the terminal cannot receive all SSBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SSB into a first part transmitted in a first bandwidth and a second part transmitted in a second bandwidth. The terminal receives only the first part within its narrowband capability, while the base station transmits the complete SSB across multiple bandwidths. This segmentation allows terminals with reduced bandwidth support to still access essential synchronization information without requiring full bandwidth capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bandwidth extension mechanism as an intermediary between the base station and the terminal. The base station transmits SSB information across multiple bandwidths, and the terminal selectively receives the portion within its capability. This intermediary approach enables compatibility between wideband SSB transmission and narrowband terminal reception without requiring terminal bandwidth extension.
2Device complexity
If the terminal uses reduced capability to lower cost, then device complexity is reduced, but downlink control channel reception is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downlink control channel into a first part transmitted in a first bandwidth and a second part transmitted in a second bandwidth. The reduced capability terminal is configured to receive only the first part within its bandwidth limit. This segmentation ensures that essential control information is available to narrowband terminals while maintaining the integrity of the complete control channel for capable terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different bandwidth configurations to different parts of the downlink control channel. The first part uses a bandwidth suitable for narrowband terminals, while the second part uses an additional bandwidth for enhanced capability terminals. This local quality approach allows each part of the control channel to be optimized for the terminal type that needs it most.
3Measurement precision
If the base station transmits SSB in wideband, then synchronization performance is improved, but narrowband terminals cannot receive it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SSB transmission into multiple bandwidth portions. The base station transmits the first part of the SSB in a first bandwidth that narrowband terminals can receive, and the second part in an additional second bandwidth. This segmentation ensures that synchronization performance is maintained for wideband terminals while ensuring compatibility with narrowband terminals that can only receive the first part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the SSB transmission universal by transmitting it across multiple bandwidths simultaneously. The first bandwidth portion serves both narrowband and wideband terminals, while the second bandwidth portion provides enhanced synchronization for wideband terminals. This multi-functionality approach allows a single SSB transmission to serve multiple terminal types with different bandwidth capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The method comprises receiving, from a base station (BS), a master information block (MIB) including configuration information related to a number of consecutive resource blocks for control resource set (CORESET) #0; and receiving, from the BS, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) through the CORESET #0 including second resource blocks excluding first resource blocks from the resource blocks based on i) the number of the resource blocks and ii) a channel bandwidth. A puncturing based on a specific number of the first resource blocks among the resource blocks is assumed for the CORESET #0. The PDCCH is received through one or more PDCCH candidates including control channel elements (CCEs) in a search space related to the CORESET #0. Indexes of the CCEs related to the one or more PDCCH candidates are based on a number of the CCEs, and the number of the CCEs is based on the CORESET #0 before the puncturing.