PUCCH Group Preferred Carrier Signaling for Uplink Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems lack efficient methods for a user equipment (UE) to indicate a preferred primary carrier for uplink control communications in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) group, leading to suboptimal resource allocation and interference in heterogeneous networks.

Innovation Solution

The UE and network entity can exchange information to identify a preferred primary carrier within a PUCCH group, enabling efficient uplink control communications based on this information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE transmits information indicating a preferred primary carrier in a PUCCH group, then resource allocation efficiency is improved and interference is reduced, but signaling overhead and communication protocol complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new parameter (preferred primary carrier indication) to the existing PUCCH group communication framework. This parameter allows the UE to signal its carrier preference without fundamentally changing the overall protocol structure, thereby improving resource allocation while adding controlled complexity through a specific signaling parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the system supports UE preference indication for primary carrier selection, then network performance and user experience are improved, but the complexity of carrier management and signaling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performanceVSAvoidcarrier management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the UE to autonomously determine and indicate its preferred primary carrier based on its own measurements and conditions (such as signal quality, power constraints, or capability). This self-service approach allows the network to benefit from UE-specific optimization without requiring complex centralized carrier management, as each UE independently makes its preference indication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple carriers are aggregated in a PUCCH group, then communication flexibility and spectral efficiency are improved, but interference management and resource coordination become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE indicate its preferred primary carrier before actual uplink control communications occur. This advance indication allows the network to pre-configure resource allocation and interference management strategies for the selected carrier, preventing interference issues before they arise rather than managing them reactively during communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12432765B2Indication of a preferred carrier in a physical uplink control channel group

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit, to a network entity, information indicating a carrier, in a physical uplink control channel group, that is a preferred primary carrier for the UE for uplink control communications with the network entity. The UE may communicate based at least in part on the information. Numerous other aspects are described.