PUCCH Acknowledgement Bundling for Low-Overhead HARQ Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio telecommunication technologies face challenges in achieving efficient and flexible acknowledgement signaling with low signaling overhead, particularly in 5G networks, which is crucial for processes like HARQ and ARQ.
Innovation Solution
A method and user equipment are introduced that allow for selecting acknowledgement signaling configurations from a set of configurations, including feedback and retransmission configurations, to optimize signaling based on various parameters such as timing, resource pools, and transmission characteristics, thereby reducing unnecessary overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UE transmits separate acknowledgements for each downlink transport block in a multi-TB PDSCH reception, then the downlink data transmission reliability is improved, but the uplink control channel resources are excessively consumed and the signalling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate acknowledgement signals into a single bundled acknowledgement signal. Instead of transmitting individual ACK/NACK for each transport block separately, the UE bundles multiple acknowledgements together and transmits them as one combined signal on the uplink control channel, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining reliability information for all transport blocks
Solution Approach 2:
The bundled acknowledgement mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acknowledges multiple transport blocks, indicates hybrid ARQ process information, and provides feedback for multiple PDSCH receptions within a single uplink transmission, thereby reducing overall signalling overhead while maintaining comprehensive feedback capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network configures multiple PDSCH to PUCCH mappings for different hybrid ARQ processes, then the acknowledgement signaling capability is enhanced, but the device complexity and configuration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-configures multiple PDSCH to PUCCH mappings for different hybrid ARQ processes before actual data transmission. This preliminary configuration enables the UE to efficiently map received PDSCH to appropriate PUCCH resources without real-time decision complexity, reducing runtime processing overhead while maintaining versatile acknowledgement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the acknowledgement signaling into multiple PUCCH mappings corresponding to different hybrid ARQ processes. Each mapping is associated with specific HARQ process groups, allowing organized and systematic management of acknowledgement resources, thereby reducing overall configuration complexity through structured segmentation
3Reliability
If the UE transmits PUCCH repetitions to enhance uplink coverage, then the acknowledgement delivery reliability is improved, but the uplink control channel resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple PUCCH transmissions into a bundled acknowledgement structure where repetitions carry redundant information about the same bundled feedback. This merging approach ensures reliable delivery through repetition while minimizing total resource consumption by consolidating the information content that needs to be transmitted across multiple repetitions
Data Source
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AI summary
There is dislosed a method of operating a user equipment 10 in a radio access network. The method comprises transmitting acknowledgement signaling based on a feedback configuration, the feedback configuration being selected from a set of configured acknowledgement configurations. The disclosure also pertains to related methods and devices.