NOMA Shared-Resource Transmission With UE-Specific Waveforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) schemes, such as MUST, face inefficiencies due to using a single waveform for all users and relying solely on geographical location for user grouping, which does not account for varying channel conditions and mobility, leading to sub-optimal performance and increased signaling overhead.

Innovation Solution

Employ independent waveforms optimized for individual user equipment (UE) channel characteristics and incorporate mobility-based user grouping to reduce signaling overhead and improve transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single waveform is used for all users in NOMA schemes, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission performance deteriorates due to inability to adapt to varying channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaveform processing complexityVSAvoidtransmission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user group into different categories (e.g., near users and far users, or users with different mobility patterns) and assigns different waveforms to different segments. This allows each segment to use a waveform optimized for its specific channel conditions while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through structured segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by selecting waveforms based on local channel characteristics of each user or user group. Instead of using a uniform waveform across all users, the system adapts the waveform type (e.g., CP-OFDM, DFT-s-OFDM, FBMC) to match the specific propagation conditions, mobility state, and channel quality of each user segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If user grouping is based solely on geographical location, then ease of operation is improved, but transmission performance deteriorates due to ignoring mobility and channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser grouping simplicityVSAvoidtransmission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic user grouping that adapts to changing channel conditions and mobility patterns. Users are grouped not only based on static geographical location but also on dynamic parameters such as mobility state, channel quality, and Doppler spread, allowing the grouping structure to evolve with changing transmission conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the grouping parameters from purely geographical to a composite set including mobility metrics, channel quality indicators, and Doppler characteristics. This multi-parameter approach enables more accurate user grouping that reflects actual transmission conditions while maintaining operational feasibility through structured parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If independent waveforms optimized for each UE are used, then transmission performance is improved, but signaling overhead increases due to additional waveform information that must be communicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the waveform selection decision with existing user grouping and resource allocation procedures. By combining waveform assignment with user grouping, the system reduces redundant signaling and integrates waveform information into the existing control plane procedures, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining performance benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a unified user grouping framework that simultaneously handles multiple functions: user categorization, resource allocation, and waveform selection. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate signaling for waveform information and leverages existing control structures to convey waveform assignments efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If mobility-based user grouping is implemented, then transmission performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional mobility measurement and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidmobility processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts mobility-related parameters (such as mobility state, Doppler spread, and velocity information) from the overall channel characterization and uses them as independent grouping criteria. By separating mobility parameters from general channel conditions, the system can implement mobility-based grouping using readily available measurements without requiring complex integrated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4287720B1Communicating data of a first user equipment and data of a second user equipment on shared resources of a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP4287720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4287720B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4287720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus serves a plurality of user equipments in a wireless communication system. For transmitting/receiving data of a plurality of user equipments, which include at least a first user equipment and a second user equipment, on resources shared by the plurality of user equipments, the apparatus transmits/receives a first data signal of the first user equipment and second data signal of the second user equipment using a non-orthogonal multiple access, NOMA, scheme. The first data signal and the second data signal are modulated using different waveforms prior to superposition of the first and second data signals.