Common PDCCH Configuration via Resource Location Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies due to user equipment (UE) performing multiple 'blind decode' operations to identify time-frequency resources for control channels, leading to increased network latency and decreased performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves generating and transmitting resource location information by network nodes to UEs, allowing them to identify candidate time-frequency resource locations for common control channels, thereby reducing the need for rigorous blind decoding and enhancing resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UE performs multiple blind decode operations to monitor multiple time-frequency resource locations, then the UE can discover control channels with unknown locations, but network latency increases and system performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel location flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary action by pre-configuring and signaling the time-frequency resource locations for the common control channel to the UE before the UE needs to monitor for control information. This eliminates the need for the UE to perform multiple blind decode operations across multiple unknown locations, thereby reducing latency while maintaining the flexibility to support dynamic control channel placement through configured candidates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If UE performs multiple blind decode operations to monitor multiple time-frequency resource locations, then the UE can discover control channels with unknown locations, but system performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel location flexibilityVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary action by pre-configuring and signaling the time-frequency resource locations for the common control channel to the UE before the UE needs to monitor for control information. This eliminates the need for the UE to perform multiple blind decode operations across multiple unknown locations, thereby reducing latency while maintaining the flexibility to support dynamic control channel placement through configured candidates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the network node dynamically selects time-frequency resources for control channels, then resource utilization is optimized, but the UE must perform more blind decoding operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidUE processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node acts as an intermediary by providing the UE with configured candidate time-frequency resource locations through signaling. This intermediary mechanism allows the network to dynamically select optimal resources for control channels while shielding the UE from the complexity of evaluating multiple unknown locations. The UE simply needs to monitor the configured candidates rather than performing exhaustive blind decoding, thus reducing UE processing complexity while maintaining efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4300865A1Common pdcch configuration
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4300865A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4300865A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4300865A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure describes example techniques for configuring and utilizing common control channels and configuration thereof in wireless communication systems. For instance, in an aspect, the present disclosure describes an example method performed by a network node (106) (also referred to herein as a base station, eNB, next-generation NodeB (gNB), or the like) that includes generating resource location information identifying one or more candidate time-frequency resource locations for a common control channel utilized in the cell. In addition, the example method can include transmitting the resource location information to one or more UEs and/or one or more other network nodes.