PUCCH Resource Allocation for HARQ-ACK and Scheduling Requests

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE and emerging New Radio (NR) standards, face inefficiencies in managing uplink control information (UCI) transmission, including HARQ-ACK and scheduling requests, which affects communication performance and resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

The terminal apparatus employs advanced resource allocation and multiplexing techniques, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with specific subcarrier spacing configurations and cyclic prefix settings, to efficiently manage PUCCH resources and HARQ-ACK/SR transmissions, optimizing communication efficiency by selecting appropriate PUCCH formats and resource blocks based on UCI bit lengths and scheduling request configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If PUCCH resource allocation is based on the number of bits to be transmitted (HARQ-ACK), then resource utilization is improved, but the complexity of determining the number of SR PUCCH resources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of determining PUCCH resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring a mapping relationship between SR configuration information and SR PUCCH resources through higher layer signaling before the actual transmission occurs. This allows the terminal to determine the number of SR PUCCH resources (K) in advance based on configured SR PUCCH resource sets, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculation of combinations while maintaining efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple PUCCH formats are used to handle different UCI bit lengths, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the complexity of selecting appropriate formats increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of PUCCH format selection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by establishing a clear correspondence relationship between PUCCH formats and UCI bit length ranges. Different PUCCH formats are selected based on the number of HARQ-ACK bits (O_ACK) and scheduling request bits (O_SR), with specific formats assigned to specific bit length ranges. This systematic parameter mapping simplifies the selection process while maintaining transmission efficiency for different UCI sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If PUCCH resources are allocated based on UCI payload size, then resource efficiency is improved, but the overhead for configuration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by configuring a unified mapping relationship that handles multiple UCI types (HARQ-ACK, scheduling requests, and their combinations) through a single framework. The higher layer signaling establishes a comprehensive mapping between UCI bit length ranges and PUCCH resource sets, allowing the same configuration mechanism to serve different UCI scenarios without requiring separate overhead for each type.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3768014B1Terminal device and communication method
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 SHARP KK
  • EP3768014B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3768014B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3768014B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Included are a receiver receiving a PDCCH and a PDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH, and a transmitter transmitting, on a PUCCH, one or multiple HARQ-ACKs including at least a HARQ-ACK corresponding to a TB included in the PDSCH and an SR. For the HARQ-ACK of two or less bits, a resource of the PUCCH is, from one or multiple PUCCH resources in a PUCCH resource set, based at least on a first value based at least on the number of bits of the one or multiple HARQ-ACKs transmitted in the PUCCH, regardless of the number of resources of the SR overlapping with the PUCCH. For the HARQ-ACK of more than two bits, the resource of the PUCCH is, from the one or multiple PUCCH resources in the PUCCH resource set, based at least on a sum of the number of bits of the one or multiple HARQ-ACKs and the SR.