PUCCH Resource Determination During RRC Reconfiguration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the 5G New Radio (NR) system, User Equipment (UE) faces confusion in determining Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resources during Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration due to inconsistent understanding between the network and UE, leading to unclear resource indication methods.

Innovation Solution

The UE detects the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) in a Control Resource Set (CORESET) indicated by the network and determines PUCCH resources based on the detected PDCCH, using either a cell-specific or dedicated PUCCH resource set depending on the number of PDCCHs and Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback bits, to resolve the resource allocation ambiguity during RRC reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the UE uses inconsistent PUCCH resource understanding during RRC reconfiguration, then the network and UE can maintain flexible resource allocation, but the UE cannot determine which resource to use for uplink data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidPUCCH resource determination clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces PDCCH detection as an intermediary mechanism to resolve the ambiguity. By detecting PDCCH in CORESET and using the detected information (number of PDCCHs, HARQ feedback bits) as a mediator to select between cell-specific and dedicated PUCCH resource sets, the UE can clearly determine which resource to use during RRC reconfiguration, eliminating the confusion while maintaining allocation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the determination parameter from vague resource indication to concrete PDCCH detection results. By using the number of detected PDCCHs and HARQ feedback bit length as measurable parameters to select resource sets, the UE can unambiguously determine the correct PUCCH resource, transforming the unclear resource indication into a clear, parameter-based selection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the UE detects PDCCH in CORESET to determine PUCCH resources, then the resource determination becomes clear and accurate, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and judgment processes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH resource determination accuracyVSAvoidUE processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the PDCCH detection process multi-functional: it serves both as the trigger for RRC reconfiguration and as the basis for PUCCH resource determination. The same detection process that initiates the reconfiguration also provides the information needed to select the correct resource set, eliminating the need for separate determination mechanisms and reducing overall complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs the PUCCH resource determination preliminarily based on the PDCCH detection results before the actual uplink transmission. By using the detected PDCCH information (number of PDCCHs, HARQ feedback bits) to pre-determine the resource set, the UE avoids complex real-time decisions during transmission, simplifying the overall processing flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3780818B1Resource determining method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3780818B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3780818B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3780818B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Disclosed are a resource determining method and apparatus, and a resource indication method and apparatus for solving the problem of how the UE determines physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources in the radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration state. The resource determining method comprises: detecting a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH); and determining PUCCH resources required by a user equipment (UE) during RRC reconfiguration by detecting the PDCCH.