Overlapping PUCCH Resources for URLLC Scheduling Requests

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, especially for Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), the existing Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) formats face challenges in reliable scheduling request (SR) transmission due to interference and periodicity limitations, leading to increased latency and reduced multiplexing capacity.

Innovation Solution

Configuring overlapping PUCCH resources with a periodicity smaller than the PUCCH length allows for more frequent and reliable SR transmissions, enabling improved latency and multiplexing efficiency by allowing SRs to be sent at multiple symbol positions within a longer PUCCH format.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PUCCH resources are allocated with periodicity equal to or larger than PUCCH length, then interference between transmissions is reduced, but scheduling request transmission frequency is limited and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling request transmission reliabilityVSAvoidscheduling request latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the PUCCH resource allocation flexible and adaptive. Instead of fixed periodicity equal to or larger than PUCCH length, the system dynamically configures overlapping PUCCH resources with periodicity smaller than PUCCH length, allowing the timing and frequency of SR transmissions to be adjusted based on network conditions and latency requirements, thus reducing latency while maintaining reliability through multiple transmission opportunities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes periodic action by configuring PUCCH resources with a periodicity that is smaller than the PUCCH length. This creates multiple periodic transmission opportunities within the PUCCH format duration, enabling more frequent scheduling request transmissions. The periodic configuration allows UEs to send SRs at multiple symbol positions, increasing the frequency of attempts and reducing overall latency while the periodic structure helps manage interference through predictable patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If PUCCH format uses longer length for more frequent transmission opportunities, then scheduling request frequency increases, but resource collision and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling request transmission frequencyVSAvoidinterference and resource collision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the PUCCH time-frequency resources into multiple overlapping segments with different starting positions and lengths. Instead of using a single long PUCCH format that causes widespread interference, the system segments resources into multiple shorter transmissions that overlap in time but are separated in frequency or code domain. This allows more frequent SR transmissions while limiting the interference footprint of each individual transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by assigning different characteristics to different parts of the PUCCH resource allocation. Each UE receives customized PUCCH configurations with specific starting positions, lengths, and periodicities tailored to its requirements. This local optimization allows frequent transmissions for latency-sensitive UEs while other UEs use resources configured to minimize interference, thus achieving high productivity for individual UEs without system-wide interference increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If standard PUCCH formats are used for scheduling requests, then implementation is straightforward, but multiplexing capacity is reduced and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePUCCH configuration simplicityVSAvoidmultiplexing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing an enhanced PUCCH framework that maintains compatibility with standard PUCCH formats while adding overlapping resource capabilities. The same PUCCH configuration mechanisms and procedures are used, but extended to support multiple overlapping resources. This multi-functional approach allows the system to use existing simple configurations for basic operations while enabling complex overlapping patterns for high multiplexing capacity scenarios, thus maintaining ease of operation while dramatically improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12052714B2System and methods for configuring user equipments with overlapping PUCCH resources for transmitting scheduling requests

Publication Date: 2024.07.30 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Systems and methods for configuring UEs with overlapping PUCCH resources for transmitting scheduling requests are provided. A network node can transmit a scheduling request configuration message indicating PUCCH resources, including a periodicity parameter being less than the PUCCH length. A wireless device can configure PUCCH resources in accordance with the configuration message and transmit a scheduling request.