OFDM Control and Single-Carrier Data Channels for UE Resource Savings

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

User equipment (UE) in wireless communication systems waste processing resources attempting to receive and process multiple types of waveforms for downlink communications, leading to inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform for control channels and a single-carrier (SC) waveform for data channels, allowing for improved resource management and reduced processing overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a base station uses multiple different types of waveforms for downlink communication to a UE, then the system can support diverse communication requirements, but the UE wastes processing resources attempting to receive and process the downlink communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaveform type supportVSAvoidUE processing resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The downlink communication is segmented into control channel and data channel, with different waveform types assigned to each. The control channel uses one waveform type while the data channel uses another, allowing the UE to process each channel separately with appropriate waveform handling rather than attempting to process all possible waveform combinations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary action by signaling the waveform type information to the UE before the UE attempts to process the downlink communication. This allows the UE to prepare the appropriate processing configuration in advance, avoiding wasted resources on incorrect waveform processing attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the UE cycles through various possible types of waveforms to process the downlink communication, then the UE can potentially identify the correct waveform type, but processing resources and time are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink communication receptionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station signals waveform type information to the UE in advance, allowing the UE to skip the trial-and-error process of cycling through waveform types. The UE can directly configure the correct waveform processing based on the received signaling, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining reliable communication reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple waveform types are supported in the system, then communication flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaveform diversityVSAvoidUE processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication signal is segmented into control and data channels with different waveform types. The UE only needs to implement processing for the specific waveform types assigned to each channel type, rather than implementing all possible waveform combinations, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining waveform diversity support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the communication signal (control channel vs. data channel) use different waveform types optimized for their specific requirements. The UE processes each part with the appropriate local waveform handling, avoiding the need to support all waveform types across all channels, thus reducing complexity while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3973656B1OFDM control channel with single carrier waveform data channel
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3973656B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3973656B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3973656B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment, UE, (120) may receive a control channel that uses an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM, waveform (310). The UE may transmit or receive a data channel, associated with the control channel, that uses a single-carrier, SC, waveform (320). Numerous other aspects are provided concerning the configuration of the used channels.