Polar Code Version Signaling for PBCH Soft Combining

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G wireless communications, existing polar code designs for the Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) lack an efficient method to explicitly indicate version information, leading to increased power consumption due to blind detection requirements.

Innovation Solution

A polar code encoding method that maps q bits to indicate the version of the encoded codeword, using a scrambling vector from a polar generation matrix to permute and transmit codewords of different versions, allowing explicit version information to be conveyed to the receiver without the need for blind detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If blind detection is used to determine version information, then the receiver can identify codeword versions, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveversion information detection accuracyVSAvoidreceiver power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-associating specific scrambling vectors with specific version information before transmission. The transmitter selects and applies a scrambling vector corresponding to the version number in advance, so the receiver can directly determine the version by identifying which scrambling vector was used, eliminating the need for blind detection and reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If version information is explicitly transmitted, then decoding efficiency improves, but codeword structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding efficiencyVSAvoidcodeword structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses scrambling vectors as intermediaries to convey version information. Instead of directly embedding version bits in the codeword structure, the version information is encoded by selecting specific scrambling vectors from a predefined set. This intermediary approach allows version transmission without increasing the fundamental codeword structure, maintaining decoding efficiency while avoiding structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple copies of PBCH are soft combined, then detection performance improves, but the need for version indication becomes more critical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection performanceVSAvoidversion information clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating version information from the main data payload. Version information is conveyed through distinct scrambling vectors that are applied to different segments or copies of the PBCH. This segmentation ensures that version identification remains clear and unambiguous even when multiple copies are soft combined for improved detection performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3635890B1Methods and apparatus for polar encoding of information comprising bits used to indicate a version of encoded codeword
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3635890B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3635890B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3635890B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method to explicitly indicate the version information while still supporting soft combining is disclosed. A polar code encoder maps q bits to q positions of q sub-channels, q is a positive integer; wherein the q bits are used to indicate a version of encoded codeword; map K-q information bits to K-q positions for the K-q information bits, K is an integer, K>q; and perform polar encoding over an input vector (I), comprising the q bits and the K-q information bits, with the length of N, N is an integer, N>=K and scramble with scrambling vector over the polar encoded bits, wherein the scrambling vector is associated to the q sub-channels or the scrambling vector is associated to a special frozen bit which is corresponding to the q sub-channels.