PUCCH Repetition Modes for Beam Blockage Robustness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining robust PUCCH transmission in high-frequency bands due to unpredictable beam blockage, leading to unreliable HARQ acknowledgments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing transmission repetition modes with multiple beams and time offsets for PUCCH transmissions, dynamically controlled by the base station using HARQ offset indications and CSI reports to enhance robustness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If single-beam PUCCH transmission is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to unpredictable beam blockage in high-frequency bands

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH transmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission repetition mode complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission repetition modes where the base station configures multiple PUCCH resources with different time offsets and beam directions. The system dynamically selects between single transmission mode and repetition modes based on channel conditions, allowing adaptation to beam blockage scenarios while managing complexity through conditional activation rather than always-on complex mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key transmission parameters including time offsets (k1 values), beam directions, and resource configurations to create diverse transmission opportunities. By modifying these parameters across multiple transmission attempts, the system overcomes beam blockage without requiring fundamentally new transmission mechanisms, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity growth

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple PUCCH transmissions with different time offsets are implemented, then reliability is improved through diversity, but loss of time increases due to multiple transmission attempts

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ acknowledgment reliabilityVSAvoidtime offset for PUCCH transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station pre-configures multiple PUCCH resources with different time offsets during initial resource allocation. This preliminary configuration allows the UE to immediately select appropriate transmission opportunities without real-time decision delays, reducing the time penalty of multiple transmission attempts while maintaining reliability through pre-planned diversity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic transmission opportunities with structured time offsets between repetitions. By organizing transmissions in periodic patterns with optimized intervals, the system balances the need for multiple attempts against time loss, ensuring reliable delivery while minimizing delay through carefully designed periodic structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If transmission repetition modes are configured, then adaptability is improved for blockage scenarios, but device complexity increases due to multiple beam configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to beam blockageVSAvoidbeam configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission task into multiple independent PUCCH resources, each with specific beam directions and time offsets. This segmentation allows the system to target different spatial paths independently, improving adaptability to blockage while managing complexity by breaking down the overall transmission problem into manageable, pre-configured segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multi-functional PUCCH resources that can serve multiple purposes: initial transmission, repetition, fallback option, and beam diversity exploration. By designing resources with universal applicability across different scenarios, the system achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same resource structure serves multiple functions

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

Data Source

PatentEP4055748B1System and method for transmission repetition mode indicators
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 ZTE CORP
  • EP4055748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4055748B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4055748B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication node includes configuring, by a wireless communication node, a transmission repetition mode and at least one resource for an uplink channel transmission of a wireless communication device, the transmission repetition mode indicating at least one of: a number of times of the uplink channel transmission to be performed, one or more multiplexing modes of the number of times of the uplink channel transmission to be performed, and one or more time locations of the number of times of the uplink channel transmission to be performed. The method includes transmitting, by the wireless communication node, the transmission repetition mode to the wireless communication device.