PUCCH Resource Allocation for LTE-TDD HARQ Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE-TDD systems, the existing PDCCH-specific resource allocation schemes are not suitable for TDD systems, and the 'lowest eCCE index number plus offset' technique is not well applicable, leading to insufficient PUCCH resources for ACK/NACK feedback, especially when multiple downlink subframes are mapped to a single uplink subframe.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for determining device channel resources in a TDD system, where channel resources are divided into multiple regions based on the number or potential highest number of downlink subframes with ePDCCH, allowing for efficient HARQ feedback by reallocating PUCCH resources and using the lowest eCCE index plus offset, which is suitable for TDD systems, and optionally adopting an interleaved mode for resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ePDCCH is added to PDSCH to serve more users, then the number of served users increases, but PUCCH resources for ACK/NACK feedback become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of served usersVSAvoidPUCCH resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides channel resources into multiple channel regions based on the number of downlink subframes with ePDCCH. This segmentation allows different regions to handle different quantities of ACK/NACK feedback, effectively increasing the total capacity for user feedback while maintaining organized resource management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the lowest eCCE index number plus offset technique is applied, then resource allocation is simplified, but it is not well applicable to TDD system with multiple downlink subframes mapping to one uplink subframe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation simplicityVSAvoidapplicability to TDD system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different resource allocation strategies to different channel regions. Specifically, it uses the lowest eCCE index number plus offset technique for certain regions while employing other methods for regions handling multiple downlink subframes, allowing each region to have optimized quality suitable for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically determines the number of channel regions based on the actual number of downlink subframes with ePDCCH. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt resource allocation complexity to the actual traffic conditions, using simpler methods when appropriate and more complex methods only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If multiple downlink subframes are mapped to one uplink subframe, then system capacity is improved, but resource allocation complexity and conflicts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments channel resources into multiple regions, where each region can independently handle feedback from a specific set of downlink subframes. This segmentation reduces allocation complexity by localizing the management of multiple subframes rather than handling them as a single complex resource pool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional dimension to resource allocation by creating multiple channel regions along the frequency or time domain. This dimensional expansion allows the system to handle multiple downlink subframes by distributing their feedback across different regions, thereby reducing conflicts and simplifying individual region management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2901600B1Methods and apparatuses for determining device channel resource(s) of a user equipment
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2901600B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2901600B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP2901600B1 patent drawingFigure 4b~4c

AI summary

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method, apparatus, and equipment for determining device channel resources of a user equipment in an LTE-TDD system. The TDD system performs resource scheduling to the user equipment using an enhanced physical downlink control channel, and a physical uplink control channel as used includes channel resource(s) for feeding back a hybrid automatic repeat request of a physical downlink shared channel as scheduled by the enhanced physical downlink control channel, when the number of downlink subframes as fed back in one uplink subframe may be more than one, the channel resource(s) is divided into a plurality of channel regions based on the number of downlink subframes having the enhanced physical downlink control channel set thereon currently, or based on the potential highest number of downlink subframes having the enhanced physical downlink control channel set thereon. The present application obtains the device channel resource(s) occupied by the present user equipment in at least one channel region of the plurality of channel regions. The present invention enables the user equipment to feed back ePDCCH.