PUCCH Frequency Error Correction with Retuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting physical uplink control channels with repetitions and frequency retuning, particularly in maintaining accurate frequency error correction, which affects coverage and spectral efficiency, especially for machine-type communications requiring low power consumption and varying coverage enhancement levels.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring user equipment (UE) and base stations to perform frequency error correction by retuning PUCCH transmissions across different narrowbands, enabling frequency offset estimation and correction based on correlations across symbols, and adjusting the number of repetitions for channel transmissions based on corrected frequency offsets, while maintaining multiplexing capacity and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequency retuning is performed across different narrowbands for PUCCH transmissions, then coverage enhancement and spectral efficiency are improved, but frequency error correction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency error correction process by introducing a separate compensation mechanism specifically for frequency retuning effects. The base station estimates frequency offsets for each narrowband individually and applies targeted compensation, rather than using a single global correction approach. This segmentation allows accurate frequency error correction to be maintained across multiple narrowbands while still achieving coverage enhancement through frequency diversity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter approach by introducing compensation parameters that account for the specific frequency retuning characteristics of each narrowband. The base station adjusts frequency offset estimates based on the retuning history and characteristics of each narrowband, dynamically modifying the correction parameters to maintain accuracy despite frequency retuning operations.
2Reliability
If the number of repetitions for channel transmissions is increased, then reliability and coverage are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station monitors the quality of received PUCCH transmissions and dynamically adjusts the number of repetitions required. Based on channel conditions, frequency error correction accuracy, and signal quality metrics, the base station provides feedback to the UE about the appropriate repetition count. This feedback loop enables the system to achieve reliable transmission with the minimum necessary repetitions, optimizing the trade-off between reliability and power consumption rather than using a fixed high repetition count.
3Measurement precision
If frequency error correction is performed at the base station, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE perform initial frequency error correction using reference signals and pilot tones before transmission. The base station then performs a second stage of correction using the already-preprocessed signals. This two-stage approach divides the complexity burden, with the preliminary UE processing reducing the computational load required at the base station while still achieving high channel estimation accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided to enable repetitions of a physical uplink control channel transmission with frequency retuning and to enable frequency offset correction using replicas of received data symbols or received control symbols in repetitions of a channel reception. Methods and apparatus are also provided for multiplexing physical uplink control channel transmissions with different numbers of repetitions and for adjusting a number of repetitions for a channel transmission based on an adjustment of a frequency offset.