PUCCH Resource Mapping Across CCE Subsets to Prevent Collisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for implicitly determining Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resources in New Radio (NR) networks face issues with flexible selection and collisions due to restrictive PDCCH configurations, leading to implementation complexities and coverage limitations.

Innovation Solution

Implement methods for collision-free implicit mapping of PUCCH resources using candidate index determination across aggregation levels and CCE-based sub-banding, with pseudo-random variables to ensure flexible selection and reduce blocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If CCE-based implicit mapping is used for PUCCH resource determination, then resource selection is simplified, but resource collisions and blocking occur due to limited PUCCH resource pools

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH resource determination complexityVSAvoidPUCCH resource availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH resource pool is segmented into multiple subsets based on CCE index ranges. Each subset serves a specific range of CCEs, preventing collisions by distributing UEs across different subsets. The network configures multiple PUCCH resource subsets, and each UE determines which subset to use based on its scheduled CCE index, thereby eliminating resource conflicts while maintaining simple implicit mapping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional dimension to resource selection by using both CCE index and aggregation level to determine PUCCH resources. Instead of mapping CCEs to a single linear resource pool, the method creates a two-dimensional mapping space where resources are allocated based on combinations of CCE ranges and aggregation levels, significantly expanding the effective resource pool and reducing blocking.

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

2Reliability

If PUCCH resource subsets are configured for different CCE ranges, then resource collisions are reduced, but configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH resource collision avoidanceVSAvoidPUCCH resource configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service implicit mapping where UEs autonomously determine their PUCCH resource subset based on pre-configured CCE range boundaries and their own scheduled CCE index. The network only needs to configure the boundary parameters once, and each UE automatically selects the appropriate subset without additional signaling or complex configuration, reducing both network and device complexity while preventing collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If aggregation level-based indexing is used for PDCCH candidates, then unique PUCCH resource mapping is achieved, but selection flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH resource mapping uniquenessVSAvoidPUCCH resource selection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic PUCCH resource selection within each aggregation level subset. Instead of fixed mapping, UEs can select from multiple candidate resources within their assigned subset based on current channel conditions and traffic requirements. The aggregation level determines the subset, but the actual resource selection within the subset is flexible and can adapt to changing conditions, maintaining uniqueness while providing versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3776964B1Selection of physical uplink control channel resources
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3776964B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3776964B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3776964B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method and apparatus for implicitly determining a PUCCH resource. The invention allows for flexible selection of a PUCCH resource in the PUCCH resource subset for configurations of PDCCH resources without collisions through the use of a unique indices in a search-space-set in a control-resource set and/or the use of indices for control channel element subsets.