Polar-Coded Control Channels With Joint CRC for Multi-User Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in achieving efficient and reliable transmission of control information for multiple users due to the limitations of current error correcting codes like turbo codes and LDPC codes, particularly in future networks beyond LTE, where polar codes offer potential but require enhancements for improved performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of polar codes for control information transmission involves multiplexing dedicated control information for multiple users into a single transmission block, using a group cyclic redundancy check (CRC) with reduced individual CRC overhead, and employing joint encoding to achieve larger block sizes for enhanced error correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated control information for multiple users is transmitted separately using traditional codes (turbo codes or LDPC codes), then each user's control information can be decoded independently, but the error correcting performance is limited and coding gain is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correcting performanceVSAvoidcoding scheme complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges dedicated control information for multiple users into a single joint code block for transmission. Instead of encoding each user's control information separately using traditional codes, the invention combines multiple users' control information into one block and applies polar coding with a group CRC. This merging approach increases the code block size, improves error correcting performance through better coding gain, and allows the receiver to efficiently locate and decode each user's information using individual CRCs within the joint structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If polar codes are used for control information transmission, then error correcting performance can be improved, but the block size must be increased to achieve optimal performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correcting performanceVSAvoidcode block size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines dedicated control information from multiple users into a single joint code block, thereby increasing the effective block size required for optimal polar code performance. By merging multiple users' control information, the system achieves larger block sizes that enable polar codes to发挥 their full error correcting potential while maintaining efficient transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The joint code block structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits control information for multiple users, achieves optimal polar code block sizes for error correction, and incorporates both group CRC for overall integrity and individual CRCs for user-specific verification. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction between block size requirements and transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If individual CRC is added to each user's control information for error detection, then reliability is improved, but the overhead increases and reduces transmission efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection capabilityVSAvoidCRC overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual CRC checks into a group CRC structure where a single group CRC protects the entire joint code block containing multiple users' control information. This approach maintains error detection capability while significantly reducing overhead compared to having separate CRCs for each user. The receiver can verify the integrity of the entire block using the group CRC and then locate individual user information efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If control information for multiple users is multiplexed into a single transmission, then spectral efficiency is improved, but the difficulty of locating and decoding individual user information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiduser information location difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) as a feedback mechanism to enable receivers to verify and locate their own control information within the joint code block. Each user's control information is associated with an individual CRC, allowing the receiver to check for the presence and integrity of its specific information by verifying the corresponding CRC. This feedback approach solves the location difficulty while maintaining the spectral efficiency benefits of multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The individual CRCs act as intermediaries between the multiplexed control information and the receivers. Each CRC serves as a unique identifier and verification mechanism that enables receivers to efficiently locate and verify their specific control information within the joint code block without having to decode the entire block, thus maintaining spectral efficiency while reducing location difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4207606B1Efficient control channel design using polar codes
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4207606B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4207606B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4207606B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of wireless communication operable at a scheduled entity. The method may comprise receiving a polar code block comprising multiplexed control information for a plurality of scheduled entities, including the scheduled entity, decoding the polar code block utilizing polar decoding, locating dedicated control information for the scheduled entity from within the multiplexed control information and verifying an integrity of the dedicated control information. A corresponding apparatus performing the method is also disclosed.