PDCCH Aggregation Level Selection for Variable DCI Size

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing downlink control information (DCI) due to variable DCI sizes, leading to unnecessary processing and resource utilization, which can impact user experience, power consumption, and latency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to dynamically select a subset of PDCCH candidates based on DCI size and coding rates, reducing the number of monitored candidates to optimize processing and resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE monitors all PDCCH candidates regardless of DCI size, then the reliability of control information reception is maintained, but the processing complexity and power consumption increase unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol information reception reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptation of PDCCH candidate monitoring by adjusting the aggregation level based on DCI size. When DCI size is large, the UE monitors PDCCH candidates at higher aggregation levels (e.g., level 4 or 8), and when DCI size is small, it monitors at lower aggregation levels (e.g., level 1 or 2). This dynamic adjustment maintains reliable reception while reducing unnecessary processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of aggregation level based on DCI size conditions. The network configures multiple aggregation levels, and the UE selectively monitors candidates at appropriate levels depending on the actual DCI payload size. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing processing burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the UE monitors all PDCCH candidates regardless of DCI size, then no control information is missed, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol information reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UE dynamically adjusts its monitoring behavior based on DCI size conditions. By switching between different aggregation levels according to the actual control information size, the UE avoids continuous monitoring of all candidates at all levels, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable reception when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of monitoring all PDCCH candidates at all aggregation levels continuously, the UE performs partial monitoring by selecting only the necessary aggregation levels based on DCI size. This partial action approach reduces energy expenditure while ensuring that sufficient monitoring coverage is maintained for reliable control information reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the UE monitors all PDCCH candidates regardless of DCI size, then control information is received reliably, but latency increases due to extensive processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol information reception reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic selection of aggregation levels based on DCI size, allowing the UE to quickly determine the appropriate monitoring level without extensive processing. This dynamic approach reduces latency by avoiding the need to decode all PDCCH candidates at all aggregation levels, while still maintaining reliable reception through appropriate level selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the system uses fixed aggregation levels for all DCI sizes, then the configuration is simple, but resource efficiency decreases due to unnecessary monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidresource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic aggregation level selection that adapts to DCI size conditions. The network configures multiple aggregation levels, and the UE selectively monitors candidates based on actual DCI payload size. This dynamic approach improves resource efficiency by preventing unnecessary monitoring of high aggregation levels when DCI size is small, while maintaining configuration simplicity through standardized adaptation rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250393055A1Downlink control information size-dependent aggregation levels

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive one or more control messages configuring a set of multiple search space sets. Each search space set of the set of multiple search space sets may be associated with one or more downlink control information (DCI) formats and a set of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates per aggregation level. The UE may select, from the set of PDCCH candidates, a subset of PDCCH candidates based on a size of one or more DCI messages and one or more configuration associated with a range of coding rates. Methods for selecting the subset of PDCCH candidates are described. The UE may monitor one or more search space sets of the set of multiple search space sets based on the selected subset of PDCCH candidates.