PDCCH Frequency-Division Multiplexing in LTE-Advanced

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In future mobile communication systems, such as LTE-Advanced, the conventional radio resource allocation method fails to optimize the efficiency of radio resource usage as the number of user terminals multiplexed over the same resources increases, particularly in Hetnets and CoMP transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal and radio base station employ a method where the downlink control channel and shared channel are frequency-division-multiplexed in a resource region, with the user terminal detecting the starting position of this multiplexing to receive the control channel effectively, thereby extending the PDCCH allocation region without disrupting the existing PDCCH region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of user terminals multiplexed over the same radio resources is increased, then the efficiency of radio resource usage is improved, but the conventional radio resource allocation method cannot optimize the efficiency effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio resource usage efficiencyVSAvoidradio resource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the PDCCH allocation into the PDSCH region by frequency-division multiplexing, adding a spatial dimension to control channel allocation. This allows the control channel to utilize frequency resources in the data region, effectively increasing the multiplexing capacity without conflicting with existing time-domain allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the PDSCH region by allocating specific frequency resources within it for PDCCH transmission. This segmentation creates dedicated control channel resources embedded within the data region, enabling independent control channel allocation that supports increased user terminal multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the PDCCH allocation region is extended to support more user terminals, then the multiplexing capacity is improved, but the existing PDCCH region may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of user terminals multiplexedVSAvoidPDCCH allocation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PDSCH region to create embedded PDCCH resources, separating control and data functions within the same time-frequency grid. This segmentation allows extension of control channel capacity without interfering with the traditional PDCCH region structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces frequency-division multiplexing as an intermediary mechanism between the PDCCH and PDSCH. This intermediary approach allows both control and data channels to coexist in the same time domain by separating them in the frequency domain, maintaining reliability while extending capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If frequency-division multiplexing is applied in the PDSCH region, then the control channel capacity is increased, but the detection complexity at the user terminal increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel capacityVSAvoidstarting position detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-signalizing the starting position of frequency-division multiplexed PDCCH resources to user terminals. This advance notification allows terminals to prepare their detection algorithms and allocate processing resources efficiently, reducing the actual detection complexity during data reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the base station provides information about the starting position of multiplexed control channels to user terminals. This feedback enables terminals to accurately locate and decode control channel resources without exhaustive search, significantly reducing detection complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2706801B1User terminal, wireless base station, downlink control channel reception method, and mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2706801B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2706801B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2706801B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is designed such that it is possible to optimize the effect of improving the efficiency of use of radio resources even when the number of user terminals to be multiplexed over the same radio resources is further increased. A user terminal performs downlink communication with a radio base station using a PDCCH resource region and a PDSCH resource region. The user terminal detects the starting position of the radio resources where the PDSCH and the PDCCH are frequency-division-multiplexed in the PDSCH resource region in the time direction, and receives the PDCCH that is frequency-division-multiplexed over the radio resources starting from the detected starting position.