Orthogonal Cover Codes Reduce Control Signal Cross-Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing cross-correlation for control signals, leading to inefficient blind decoding processes that consume excessive power and prolong incorrect decoding hypotheses.

Innovation Solution

Applying an orthogonal cover code to polar codewords to reduce cross-correlation between different control signals, using techniques such as orthogonal cover codes (PCOC) and seed derivation for reference signals like DMRS to enhance randomness and reduce false positives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blind decoding is performed for all control signal hypotheses, then all control signals can be decoded, but power consumption increases and decoding efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol signal decoding reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using orthogonal cover codes to pre-mark control signals with unique identifiers before transmission. This allows the receiver to quickly identify and reject hypotheses corresponding to other users' control signals through cross-correlation checks, preventing unnecessary full decoding operations and reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable decoding of intended control signals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by applying orthogonal cover codes to polar codewords during the encoding phase. This pre-processing step embeds user-specific signatures into control signals, enabling the receiver to perform preliminary hypothesis validation through cross-correlation before committing to full decoding operations, thereby improving decoding efficiency and reducing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If orthogonal cover codes are applied to polar codewords, then cross-correlation between control signals is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding accuracyVSAvoidencoding and decoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the encoding process to include orthogonal cover code multiplication on polar codewords. This changes the mathematical parameters of the control signals, embedding user-specific signatures that enable accurate hypothesis identification. The complexity increase is offset by the significant reduction in false positive decoding attempts, resulting in net efficiency improvement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses orthogonal cover codes as an intermediary element between the control signal content and the transmission medium. These cover codes act as mediators that carry user identification information without altering the underlying control message, enabling efficient hypothesis validation while maintaining the integrity and functionality of the original control signals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3776947B1Cross-correlation reduction for control signals
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3776947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3776947B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3776947B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In accordance with the described techniques, communicating devices (e.g., an encoder and decoder) may apply an orthogonal cover code to a polar codeword to reduce cross-correlation between different codewords. For example, such techniques may reduce power consumption at a decoding device by providing for earlier decoding termination (e.g., as a result of the reduced cross-correlation). Techniques for generating the cover codes (e.g., on a per-aggregation level basis) and applying the cover codes (e.g., within a search space) are described. Additionally or alternatively, the described techniques may relate to seeding of reference signals used to support decoding of the codewords. Improved orthogonality between reference signal seeds may further suppress codeword recipient ambiguity.