PRACH Feedback for Idle-Mode Multicast Channel Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems, particularly in LTE and NB-IoT, face challenges in efficiently managing feedback mechanisms for multicast transmissions to RRC idle mode UEs, leading to suboptimal modulation and coding scheme adjustments due to lack of channel state information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a PRACH-based feedback system where UEs send preambles indicating negative acknowledgments or channel quality indices to enable the base station to adjust transmission parameters, allowing UEs to remain in idle mode without establishing a full RRC connection, and using predefined relations between preamble IDs and CSI to facilitate efficient retransmissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If PRACH-based feedback is implemented for RRC idle mode UEs, then channel state information can be obtained without full RRC connection, but feedback overhead and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFeedback capability for idle mode UEsVSAvoidFeedback mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential feedback function from the full RRC connection protocol, implementing a simplified PRACH-based feedback mechanism that operates independently of complete RRC state management. This allows channel state information collection without requiring full RRC connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces PRACH preambles as an intermediary feedback carrier between UE and base station. These preambles serve as a simplified communication bridge that enables idle mode UEs to transmit feedback information without establishing full RRC connections, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining feedback capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If MCS and repetition levels are adjusted based on UE feedback, then transmission robustness improves, but feedback processing time and system response delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMulticast transmission robustnessVSAvoidFeedback processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary configuration of feedback parameters and predefined MCS tables during system setup. This allows the base station to prepare adjustment strategies in advance, reducing real-time processing time when feedback arrives. The preliminary configuration includes setting up feedback periodicity, selecting appropriate MCS levels, and pre-calculating repetition patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of MCS and repetition levels based on received feedback, allowing the system to adapt transmission parameters in real-time according to actual channel conditions. This dynamic approach enables the system to respond to changing network conditions while maintaining optimal transmission robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If feedback is collected from all UEs, then channel quality assessment accuracy improves, but feedback overhead and signal processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveChannel quality indicator accuracyVSAvoidFeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial feedback collection by configuring UEs to report feedback at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This periodic feedback mechanism collects sufficient channel quality information for accurate assessment while significantly reducing the total feedback overhead and processing load compared to continuous or per-transmission feedback from all UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3536019B1Single cell point-to-multipoint feedback
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3536019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3536019B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3536019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various communication systems may benefit from appropriately configured feedback. For example, certain embodiments may benefit from single cell point-to-multipoint feedback methods and mechanisms. A method can include determining, by a user equipment, that a data transport block was not received. The method can also include feeding back, by the user equipment, a preamble indicating a measured downlink channel state information responsive to the determination that the data transport block was not received.