PDCCH Blind Decoding Reduction via DCICI Message

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face inefficiencies in blind decoding of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates, leading to increased power consumption and complexity in locating DCI messages, especially for devices with limited capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a DCI candidate indication (DCICI) message that provides specific information for locating PDCCH candidates, allowing devices to decode DCI messages more efficiently by reducing the number of blind decodes required, using a dedicated RNTI and indicating resource locations of PDCCH candidates that carry DCI messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blind decoding is performed on all PDCCH candidates to ensure reliable DCI message acquisition, then reliability is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDCI message acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gNB performs preliminary action by transmitting DCI candidate indication information before the actual PDCCH decoding. This indication information pre-specifies which PDCCH candidates are likely to contain valid DCI messages, allowing the UE to focus blind decoding efforts only on indicated candidates rather than exhaustively checking all possible candidates, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable DCI acquisition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

DCI candidate indication information acts as an intermediary between the gNB and UE. This intermediary element guides the UE's blind decoding process by providing hints about which PDCCH candidates are promising, effectively mediating between the need for comprehensive search (reliability) and limited decoding attempts (power savings)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If blind decoding is performed on all PDCCH candidates to ensure reliable DCI message acquisition, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDCI message acquisition reliabilityVSAvoiddecoding complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by establishing DCI candidate indication information through higher layer signaling before actual decoding occurs. This pre-established indication mechanism simplifies the decoding process by providing a structured approach to candidate selection, reducing the complexity of determining which PDCCH candidates to decode while ensuring reliable DCI message acquisition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

DCI candidate indication information serves as an intermediary that mediates between the gNB's scheduling decisions and the UE's decoding process. This intermediary simplifies the UE's complex task of searching through multiple PDCCH candidates by providing guided indications, thereby reducing decoding complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the number of blind decodes is reduced to lower power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but the risk of missed DCI messages increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidDCI message acquisition reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback through DCI candidate indication information that is transmitted from the gNB to the UE. This feedback mechanism provides the UE with information about which PDCCH candidates are likely to contain valid DCI messages, enabling the UE to reduce blind decoding attempts while maintaining high reliability by focusing on the most promising candidates indicated by the feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If DCI candidate indication information is transmitted to guide blind decoding, then decoding efficiency is improved, but overhead in the control channel increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecoding efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol channel overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies segmentation by separating the DCI transmission into two parts: higher layer signaling that establishes the indication information, and the actual PDCCH candidates that carry the DCI messages. This segmentation allows the indication information to be transmitted efficiently without interfering with the actual control channel data, improving decoding efficiency while minimizing overhead in the critical control channel resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230370875A1Pdcch blind decoding reduction

Publication Date: 2023.11.16 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A base station may transmit to a first UE, and the first UE may receive from the base station, a DCICI message associated with a first SS and a first monitoring occasion. The DCICI message may be indicative of information for locating at least one PDCCH associated with the first SS and the first monitoring occasion. The base station may transmit to the first UE at the first monitoring occasion at least one DCI message via the at least one PDCCH associated with the first SS and the first monitoring occasion. The first UE may decode, based on successful decoding of the DCICI message, the at least one DCI message based on the information for locating the at least one PDCCH associated with the first SS and the first monitoring.