Panel-Specific CORESET Configuration for Multi-TRP Massive MIMO

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G New Radio (NR) systems, multi-panel user equipment (MP-UE) faces challenges in handling a large number of control resource sets (CORESETs) during multi-TRP transmission operations, which increases processing complexity and power usage, limiting the number of cooperating TRPs it can connect to.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a radio network element receives user equipment capability information and signal strength information from MP-UE, determining TRP sets and generating CORESET configurations for each panel combination, allowing TRPs to provide downlink transmissions efficiently by activating specific antenna panels and assigning CORESETs in a panel combination-specific manner, thereby reducing the total number of CORESETs handled by MP-UE.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If MP-UE handles a large number of CORESETs during multi-TRP transmission operations, then connectivity with more TRPs is achieved, but processing complexity and power usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity with TRPsVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the set of all possible TRPs into multiple TRP sets, where each TRP set corresponds to a specific panel combination. This segmentation allows the UE to handle CORESETs in a organized manner, where each CORESET is associated with a specific TRP set and panel combination, reducing the overall processing complexity while maintaining connectivity with multiple TRPs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic panel combination activation, where the UE can activate different panel combinations based on current transmission conditions. The network can indicate which panel combination to activate, and the UE dynamically switches between different panel combinations and their corresponding TRP sets, allowing adaptive management of CORESETs without permanently handling all possible configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If MP-UE handles a large number of CORESETs during multi-TRP transmission operations, then connectivity with more TRPs is achieved, but power usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity with TRPsVSAvoidpower usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and activates only the necessary panel combinations and corresponding TRP sets based on current transmission requirements. Instead of continuously processing all possible CORESETs, the system identifies and activates only the relevant panel combination and its associated TRP set, reducing power consumption by processing only the necessary subset of CORESETs at any given time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic reconfiguration of panel combinations and TRP set activations based on changing transmission conditions. The network can update the UE with new panel combination indications and CORESET associations periodically, allowing the system to adapt to varying conditions while maintaining low power consumption by deactivating unnecessary CORESETs during stable periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4046282B1UE panel combination-specific coreset configuration for cell-free massive MIMO
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4046282B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4046282B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4046282B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of operating a radio network element includes receiving user equipment (UE) capability information indicating panel combinations of a multi panel UE (MP-UE), each including at least one antenna panel from among a plurality of antenna panels of the MP-UE; receiving signal strength information corresponding to plurality of transmission reception points (TRPs); based on the signal strength information, determining a plurality of TRP sets corresponding to the plurality of panel combinations, respectively; and generating a plurality of control resource set (CORESET) configurations corresponding to the plurality of panel combinations, respectively, wherein, for each panel combination, the TRP set corresponding to the panel combination indicates at least one TRP from among the plurality of TRPs, and the CORESET configuration corresponding to the panel combination defines one or more CORESETs to be used by the at least one TRP to provide downlink (DL) transmissions to the MP-UE via the panel combination.