PUCCH Resource Grouping for Carrier Aggregation Complexity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G and future 6G networks, face challenges in efficiently managing and optimizing the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resources, especially in scenarios involving carrier aggregation and multiple serving cells.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a method for efficiently configuring and managing PUCCH resource sets in terminal devices and base station devices. This includes dynamically associating PUCCH resources with specific beam parameters and higher-layer parameters, allowing for flexible resource allocation and optimization across multiple serving cells and carrier configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If PUCCH resources are configured for multiple serving cells in carrier aggregation, then communication coverage and capacity are improved, but resource management complexity and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides PUCCH resource management into separate PUCCH groups, where each group manages PUCCH resources for specific serving cells. This segmentation allows the terminal to handle multiple serving cells without managing all PUCCH resources uniformly, reducing complexity while maintaining coverage and capacity benefits of carrier aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic PUCCH group configuration where the network can add or remove serving cells from PUCCH groups through RRC reconfiguration. This dynamic approach allows flexible resource management adapted to changing communication conditions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining versatile coverage and managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If beam parameters are associated with PUCCH resources, then transmission reliability is improved, but configuration complexity and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts beam parameter association from individual PUCCH resource configuration and implements it at the PUCCH group level. By taking out the beam parameter management from detailed resource configuration, the patent reduces configuration complexity while maintaining transmission reliability through group-level beam parameter association.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes PUCCH groups universal containers that can manage multiple PUCCH resources with different beam parameters. Each PUCCH group serves multiple functions: resource allocation, beam parameter management, and HARQ-ACK multiplexing, reducing overall configuration complexity through multi-functionality.

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

3Productivity

If HARQ-ACK signals from multiple serving cells are multiplexed in one PUCCH, then uplink resource usage is optimized, but signal processing complexity and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink resource usageVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges HARQ-ACK signals from multiple serving cells into a single PUCCH transmission within each PUCCH group. This combining approach optimizes uplink resource usage by consolidating multiple ACK/NACK signals, while the PUCCH group structure manages the signal processing complexity through organized resource handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The PUCCH group acts as an intermediary structure between multiple serving cells and the physical PUCCH resources. It mediates the multiplexing process by organizing which serving cells' HARQ-ACK signals are combined in which PUCCH, reducing signal processing complexity through structured intermediate management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If PUCCH groups are configured for managing multiple serving cells, then resource management flexibility is improved, but device complexity and network configuration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource management flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic PUCCH group configuration where the network can add or remove serving cells from PUCCH groups through RRC reconfiguration messages. This dynamic capability provides resource management flexibility to adapt to changing network conditions while the terminal follows standardized procedures to manage complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service mechanisms where the terminal automatically determines which PUCCH group to use for HARQ-ACK transmission based on the serving cell configuration. The terminal independently manages the mapping between serving cells and PUCCH groups without requiring continuous network intervention, reducing both device complexity and network configuration overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3681189B1Terminal apparatus, base station apparatus and communication method
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 SHARP KK
  • EP3681189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3681189B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3681189B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal apparatus includes: a receiver configured to receive a PDCCH including a DCI format used for scheduling of a PDSCH, and the PDSCH; and a transmitter configured to transmit a HARQ-ACK on a PUCCH, wherein an index of a downlink reference signal quasi co-located (QCLed) with an antenna port of a downlink reference signal associated with the PDSCH is given based on a control resource set in which the PDCCH is detected.