PUCCH Repetition Factors via PDCCH Aggregation Level Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently determining control channel repetition factors for uplink control messages, leading to suboptimal performance and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A base station implicitly indicates a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) repetition factor for a user equipment (UE) by selecting an aggregation level for the preceding physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), configuring a correspondence between aggregation levels and PUCCH repetition factors, and transmitting a downlink control message to guide UE transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a base station uses explicit signaling to indicate PUCCH repetition factors, then the UE can accurately determine the repetition factor, but the signaling overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping relationship between PDCCH aggregation levels and PUCCH repetition factors. Instead of direct explicit signaling, the base station selects a PDCCH aggregation level, and the UE determines the PUCCH repetition factor through a pre-configured correspondence table. This intermediary mapping reduces signaling overhead while maintaining accurate repetition factor determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE uses pre-configured correspondence information stored in its memory to self-determine the PUCCH repetition factor based on the detected PDCCH aggregation level. The UE autonomously maps the aggregation level to the corresponding repetition factor without requiring additional explicit signaling from the base station, reducing system complexity and signaling overhead.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the base station configures multiple aggregation levels with corresponding repetition factors, then the system achieves better adaptability to different channel conditions, but the configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of aggregation level to implicitly control the PUCCH repetition factor. By adjusting the aggregation level parameter in the PDCCH configuration, the system adapts to different channel conditions while the corresponding repetition factor is automatically determined through the pre-configured mapping relationship, avoiding the need for separate repetition factor configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The PDCCH aggregation level serves multiple functions: it provides downlink control information and simultaneously indicates the PUCCH repetition factor for uplink transmissions. This multi-functionality reduces configuration complexity while maintaining adaptability, as a single parameter change achieves both downlink control and uplink repetition configuration.
3Reliability
If the UE transmits more repetitions of uplink control messages, then the reliability of control channel transmission improves, but the uplink resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the PUCCH repetition factor dynamic by linking it to the PDCCH aggregation level. The repetition factor adjusts dynamically based on the detected aggregation level, allowing the system to increase repetitions for reliable transmission when needed (higher aggregation levels) and reduce repetitions when channel conditions are good (lower aggregation levels), optimizing the balance between reliability and resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, a base station may implicitly indicate a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) repetition factor for a user equipment (UE) to use on a next PUCCH via the selection of an aggregation level for the preceding physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). For example, the base station may configure relationships between PUCCH repetition factors and aggregation levels. To determine which PUCCH repetition factor the UE should use, the base station may select the corresponding aggregation level, and may transmit a downlink control message (e.g., a downlink control information (DCI) message) on a PDCCH using the selected aggregation level that corresponds to the desired PUCCH repetition factor.