PUCCH Repetition Across Multiple Beams to Avoid Uplink Collisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in ensuring high reliability for uplink control information (UCI) transmissions, particularly in scenarios involving multiple transmission points, where PUCCH reliability is compromised due to collisions and varying channel conditions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing repeated PUCCH transmissions using multiple beams, with multiplexing schemes such as time, frequency, and spatial division, and dynamic signaling to manage beam configurations and collisions, ensuring robustness and reliability through enhanced PUCCH resource management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PUCCH transmissions are repeated using multiple beams, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH transmission reliabilityVSAvoidbeam management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH transmission is segmented into multiple repetitions, each using a different beam from a configured set of beams. The base station configures a codebook of beam pairs (spatial relation info) that the UE can select from, dividing the transmission task into manageable segments that can be handled independently while collectively improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects which beams to use for PUCCH repetitions based on current channel conditions and collision scenarios. The UE can adaptively choose from configured spatial relation info based on downlink beam measurements, allowing dynamic optimization of beam selection without requiring complex real-time beam management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple PUCCH resources are configured for repetition, then transmission robustness is improved, but resource management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission robustnessVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station pre-configures a codebook of spatial relation info and PUCCH resources before transmission occurs. This preliminary configuration provides the UE with a set of predefined beam and resource options, eliminating the need for complex real-time resource management while ensuring robust transmission through multiple pre-planned paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters (spatial relation info, PUCCH resources, beams) based on downlink beam measurements and collision detection. When collisions are detected or channel conditions change, the UE can switch to alternative parameters from the configured set, maintaining transmission robustness without requiring complex real-time parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If PUCCH collisions are avoided through resource management, then reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously detects PUCCH collisions by monitoring its own transmission schedule against configured resources and autonomously resolves them by selecting alternative resources from the configured codebook. This self-service approach avoids the need for extensive base station signaling to manage collisions, reducing overhead while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses downlink beam measurements as feedback to guide uplink PUCCH beam selection. The UE measures downlink reference signals and uses this feedback to select appropriate spatial relation info for uplink transmission, creating a closed-loop system that improves reliability without requiring additional uplink feedback signaling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4133842B1Control signaling for pucch reliability enhancement
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 APPLE INC
  • EP4133842B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4133842B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4133842B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a user equipment device (UE) to perform PUCCH repetition based on signaling from at least one base station. The UE may connect to at least one base station. The UE may receive signaling from the at least one base station configuring physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission. The signaling may indicate a plurality of PUCCH resources for PUCCH repetition. The signaling may indicate a plurality of beams for PUCCH repetition. Based on the signaling from the at least one base station, the UE may transmit the PUCCH a plurality of times using the plurality of PUCCH resources and the plurality of beams.