Blind Decoding Count Modes for PDCCH Repetitions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in efficiently decoding repetition-based physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates due to premature reaching of the blind decode limit, leading to missed scheduled communications and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

The system introduces various blind decoding count modes that allow the UE to count blind decoding attempts differently, such as soft combining of repetitions as a single attempt or counting each individual decoding attempt separately, enabling more efficient use of resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE counts each blind decoding attempt separately for repetition-based PDCCH candidates, then the blind decode limit is reached faster, but this leads to premature abandonment of decoding attempts and missed scheduled communications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of decoding PDCCH candidatesVSAvoidpremature reaching of blind decode limit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic blind decoding count modes that can be configured by the network. The UE can switch between different counting modes (e.g., counting each repetition separately vs. counting only failed decoding attempts) based on network conditions and configuration, allowing flexible adaptation to resolve the contradiction between reliable decoding and avoiding premature limit exhaustion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of how blind decoding attempts are counted. By introducing different blind decoding count modes (e.g., mode 1: count each attempt; mode 2: count only failed attempts; mode 3: count based on soft combining), the system allows the UE to adjust the counting methodology to prevent premature reaching of the blind decode limit while maintaining decoding reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the UE attempts to blind decode multiple repetition-based PDCCH candidates, then the likelihood of successful DCI recovery increases, but the UE reaches the maximum blind decode limit faster

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDCI recovery reliabilityVSAvoidefficiency of blind decoding attempts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by allowing the UE to perform blind decoding on repetition-based PDCCH candidates with a modified counting approach. Instead of counting all attempts equally, the system allows selective counting (e.g., only counting failed attempts or using soft combining) to enable the UE to perform more decoding operations within the same blind decode limit, thereby improving DCI recovery reliability without proportionally increasing resource consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the UE monitors for later PDCCH candidates after successful decoding of an early candidate, then resource utilization improves, but the UE would exceed the blind decode limit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcompliance with blind decode limit
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by configuring the UE with specific blind decoding count modes before the UE attempts decoding. The network can pre-configure modes that account for repetition-based candidates, allowing the UE to plan its decoding strategy in advance. This prevents exceeding the blind decode limit while still allowing the UE to monitor multiple candidates for improved resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4218175B1Blind decoding counting for repetition-based physical downlink control channel candidates
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4218175B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4218175B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4218175B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive, from a base station, a configuration message which includes one or more parameters pertaining to blind decoding attempts by the UE of repetition-based physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates. The UE may determine, from the configuration message, a blind decoding count mode which indicates a process for counting a number of blind decoding attempts of repetition-based PDCCH candidates. The UE may monitor for one or more repetitions of a downlink control information by attempting to blind decode the one or more repetitions of a PDCCH candidate in accordance with a maximum blind decode count and the blind decoding count mode.