PUCCH Repetition Before RRC Setup for HARQ-ACK Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems do not support PUCCH transmission with repetitions before the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection is established, particularly in scenarios with limited coverage, such as Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), leading to potential failure in transmitting HARQ-ACK information and subsequent access issues.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to enhance PUCCH transmissions by allowing repetitions before the RRC connection is established, utilizing predefined common PUCCH resource sets and indication information to determine the number of repetitions and frequency hopping mode, facilitated through system information or DCI.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PUCCH transmission with repetitions is not supported before RRC connection establishment, then the system maintains simple protocol design, but coverage performance deteriorates in limited coverage scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage performanceVSAvoidprotocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables PUCCH transmission with repetitions to be performed before RRC connection establishment, allowing the terminal to repeat PUCCH transmissions in predefined common PUCCH resource sets during the random access phase. This preliminary action ensures reliable HARQ-ACK feedback transmission in limited coverage scenarios without requiring complex dedicated resource configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses predefined common PUCCH resource sets that are automatically available to terminals before RRC connection, eliminating the need for complex high-layer signaling configuration. The terminal can independently determine repetition levels and perform transmissions using these pre-configured resources, reducing protocol complexity while improving coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If PUCCH transmission with repetitions is enabled before RRC connection, then coverage performance improves, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ-ACK transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential PUCCH repetition functionality from the post-connection phase and makes it available in the pre-connection phase using predefined resource sets. By separating the repetition mechanism from dedicated resource configuration, the system achieves reliable HARQ-ACK transmission without requiring extensive high-layer signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses lightweight, pre-defined common PUCCH resource sets that can be quickly established without complex configuration. These disposable-like resources are sufficient for the temporary pre-connection phase, providing reliable transmission with minimal signaling overhead, and are replaced by dedicated resources after RRC connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If dedicated PUCCH resource configuration is required for PUCCH repetition, then transmission reliability improves, but access latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH transmission reliabilityVSAvoidaccess latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares PUCCH transmission resources in advance by defining common PUCCH resource sets that are immediately available during random access. Terminals can perform PUCCH repetitions without waiting for dedicated resource configuration, significantly reducing access latency while maintaining transmission reliability through the predefined resource structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments PUCCH resources into common predefined sets for pre-connection use and dedicated configured sets for post-connection use. This segmentation allows terminals to immediately access reliable PUCCH transmission capabilities during random access without the delay of dedicated configuration, while still enabling optimized dedicated resources to be allocated after RRC connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4498623B1Transmission method, terminal device, and network device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4498623B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4498623B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP4498623B1 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

The present application relates to a transmission method, a terminal device and a network device. The transmission method, includes: acquiring, by the terminal device, a number of repetitions for a PUCCH transmission before a dedicated PUCCH resource is configured. According to embodiments of the present application, the number of repetitions for the PUCCH transmission before the dedicated PUCCH resource is configured may be acquired, thereby improving coverage performance of a communication system.