PDCCH Monitoring Capability Reporting Across Component Carriers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently reporting user equipment (UE) capabilities for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring, particularly in scenarios involving multiple component carriers (CCs) and different release versions of 3GPP specifications, which affects network communication efficiency and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

The UE reports its PDCCH monitoring capabilities to the network, including supported CC numbers and span configurations, with options for reduced monitoring, using integrated circuitry to determine and transmit this information, supporting both Rel-15 and Rel-16 standards and allowing for flexible network configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE reports detailed PDCCH monitoring capabilities for multiple component carriers, then the network can optimize resource allocation and scheduling, but the capability reporting complexity and message size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidcapability reporting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capability reporting is segmented into multiple independent fields: each supported component carrier is represented by a separate indicator field, and span configurations are reported separately for each carrier. This segmentation allows the network to process capabilities carrier-by-carrier rather than handling a single complex message, improving both reporting efficiency and network processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional structure by organizing capability information across multiple dimensions: component carrier dimension (multiple CCs), span configuration dimension (different span patterns), and monitoring parameter dimension (search spaces, candidates). This multi-dimensional organization allows comprehensive capability reporting while maintaining structured, manageable message formats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the UE supports multiple span configurations for PDCCH monitoring, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but the number of parameters to report increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidinformation overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The UE reports capability information selectively based on what is actually supported. The patent uses indicator fields that are activated only when specific capabilities are present (e.g., first indicator for first span configuration, second indicator for second span configuration). This partial reporting approach avoids transmitting unnecessary information while maintaining complete capability description.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The capability reporting structure is designed to be dynamic and adaptive. The message format adjusts based on the actual capabilities of the UE - if only one span configuration is supported, only the corresponding indicator is set; if multiple configurations are supported, additional indicators are activated. This dynamic structure optimizes information overhead while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the network configures carrier aggregation with multiple component carriers, then data throughput is improved, but the PDCCH monitoring burden on the UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidUE processing energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables local optimization of PDCCH monitoring parameters for each component carrier. Different carriers can have different span configurations, search space configurations, and candidate numbers tailored to their specific requirements. This local quality approach allows the UE to efficiently monitor each carrier according to its actual needs rather than applying uniform monitoring parameters across all carriers, reducing overall processing burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The capability reporting mechanism enables parameter changes and optimizations for PDCCH monitoring across multiple carriers. By reporting supported span configurations and monitoring parameters for each carrier, the network can adjust monitoring intensity and parameters dynamically, reducing the energy burden on the UE while maintaining high throughput through carrier aggregation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4133764B1Reporting supported component carriers for physical downlink control channel monitoring capabilities

Publication Date: 2026.03.25 APPLE INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A user equipment (UE) reports capabilities to a network. The UE receives a request from a network for radio access capabilities of the UE, determines one or more radio access capabilities related to a supported number of component carriers (CCs) for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring by the UE, generates the message that includes the one or more radio access capabilities of the UE and transmits the message to the network.