Outer Coding Schemes for Downlink Control Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, multicast retransmissions in downlink control information can be inefficient due to a high probability of unsuccessful decoding by user equipment (UEs), leading to increased overhead signaling and reduced throughput and quality of service (QoS).
Innovation Solution
Applying an outer code scheme at the physical layer to improve reliability for NR multicast transmissions, where a base station configures and sends an outer coded block to UEs, enabling them to decode data blocks correctly even if one block is unsuccessfully received, thereby reducing negative acknowledgments (NACKs) and retransmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multicast retransmissions are used to handle unsuccessful decoding by UEs, then reliability of data delivery is improved, but signaling overhead increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies outer coding at the physical layer before data transmission to pre-enhance the reliability of multicast data blocks. This preliminary error protection mechanism enables UEs to successfully decode data without requiring retransmissions, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining high delivery reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of unreliable wireless transmission into a benefit by using outer code schemes that transform potential decoding failures into successful receptions. The outer coding adds redundancy that allows UEs to recover from transmission errors without triggering retransmission protocols, thus turning a reliability problem into a throughput improvement
2Reliability
If multicast retransmissions are performed, then data delivery reliability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer coding scheme is applied in advance to multicast data blocks before transmission, providing pre-configured error protection. This preliminary action ensures that UEs can decode data successfully on first reception without waiting for retransmissions, thereby reducing latency while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables UEs to skip the retransmission process entirely by using outer code decoding to directly recover from transmission errors. This allows the system to rush through potential failure points and deliver data faster, reducing the time loss associated with retransmission protocols
3Reliability
If outer code scheme is applied at physical layer, then decoding reliability is improved and retransmissions are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error protection function into two distinct layers: inner coding at the physical layer for basic error correction and outer coding at the MAC layer for multicast-specific reliability enhancement. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specialized function efficiently without overwhelming complexity in a single layer
Solution Approach 2:
The outer coding scheme is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides error protection for multicast transmissions, enables efficient retransmission handling, and maintains compatibility with existing physical layer protocols. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity while achieving high decoding reliability
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station may configure an outer coded block which a user equipment (UE) may implement to recover an unsuccessfully decoded transmission. The base station may send, to the UE, downlink control information (DCI) indicating an outer coding scheme for the group of data blocks (e.g., a first data block and a second data block). The UE may monitor for the data blocks and the outer coded block. The UE may decode the data blocks based on the outer coded block and the outer coding scheme. In some examples, the outer code block may be made up of a combination of the first and second data blocks. The UE may use the combination of the outer coded block and one of the data blocks to decode an unsuccessfully decode data block.