Physical Downlink Control Channel Transmission for Narrowband User Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Narrowband user equipment cannot receive a broadband PDCCH channel or configuration information for the EPDCCH due to system bandwidth exceeding its operating bandwidth, preventing physical downlink control channel transmission.

Innovation Solution

A method where configuration information of a physical downlink control channel is sent on a predefined resource, allowing the channel to be transmitted according to this information, specifically using random access response messages and predefined resources to ensure the narrowband user equipment can receive and decode the control channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the system bandwidth is increased to support more data transmission, then the data transmission capacity is improved, but the narrowband user equipment cannot receive the PDCCH channel because it exceeds its operating bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidcontrol channel reception reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channel transmission by introducing a first physical downlink control channel specifically for narrowband user equipment, separate from the second physical downlink control channel used for broadband equipment. This segmentation allows narrowband devices to receive control information within their limited bandwidth while the system maintains overall high bandwidth capacity for data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the PDCCH channel is mapped through the entire system bandwidth to maximize resource utilization, then the resource efficiency is improved, but the narrowband user equipment cannot receive the configuration information of the EPDCCH

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration information loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring the first physical downlink control channel with specific parameters (such as frequency domain resource allocation, time domain resource allocation, and resource block configuration) that are optimized for narrowband user equipment. This localized configuration ensures that control information is transmitted in a manner suitable for narrowband devices while other parts of the system continue to operate at full bandwidth efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3471474B1Physical downlink control channel transmission method, base station device, and user equipment
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3471474B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3471474B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3471474B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a physical downlink control channel sending method. The method includes: sending configuration information of a first physical downlink control channel on a predefined resource, where the configuration information of the first physical downlink control channel is used to indicate manners of sending and receiving the first physical downlink control channel; and sending the first physical downlink control channel according to the configuration information of the first physical downlink control channel. Correspondingly, the embodiments of the present invention further disclose a physical downlink control channel receiving method, a base station device, and user equipment. By using the present invention, a physical downlink control channel, especially, an EPDCCH channel, can be transmitted, to resolve a problem of physical downlink control channel transmission caused by the fact that narrowband user equipment cannot receive a broadband PDCCH channel.