PUCCH Resource Configuration for HARQ-ACK Transmission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing PUCCH resources for HARQ-ACK signal transmissions, particularly in scenarios involving EPDCCHs, leading to resource collisions and increased overhead, especially when spatial multiplexing and antenna diversity are employed.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves configuring separate PUCCH resources for HARQ-ACK signal transmissions associated with PDCCHs, distributed EPDCCHs, and localized EPDCCHs, using explicit offsets and adaptive antenna diversity, and incorporating a HARQ-ACK Resource Offset (HPRO) field in DCI formats to avoid collisions and minimize overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate PUCCH resources are configured for PDCCH, distributed EPDCCH, and localized EPDCCH, then resource collisions are avoided and transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and resource overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ-ACK signal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidPUCCH resource configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments PUCCH resources into separate configurations for different control channel types (PDCCH, distributed EPDCCH, localized EPDCCH). Each control channel type has its own dedicated PUCCH resource set, preventing resource collisions and ensuring reliable HARQ-ACK transmission regardless of which control channel type is used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of resource separation by associating PUCCH resources with specific control channel types rather than using a unified resource pool. This dimensional separation in the resource allocation space eliminates collisions while maintaining manageable complexity through structured configuration.

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

2Productivity

If explicit offsets and adaptive antenna diversity are used for PUCCH resource configuration, then spectral efficiency is improved and overhead is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidresource configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs explicit offset parameters and adaptive antenna diversity parameters to configure PUCCH resources. By changing and optimizing these parameters based on channel conditions and control channel type, the system achieves higher spectral efficiency while keeping the configuration manageable through parameter-based control rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If PUCCH resources are shared across multiple control channel types, then resource overhead is reduced, but resource collisions occur and transmission reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH resource overheadVSAvoidHARQ-ACK signal transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PUCCH resource space into separate allocations for different control channel types. This segmentation prevents resource collisions that would occur with shared resources, ensuring that each control channel type has dedicated resources for reliable HARQ-ACK transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves the conflict between resource overhead and reliability by introducing a new dimension of control channel type association. Resources are allocated in this additional dimension, allowing the system to maintain lower overhead through efficient allocation while avoiding collisions through dimensional separation.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4007196B1HARQ-ACK signal transmission in response to detection of control channel type in case of multiple control channel types
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4007196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4007196B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4007196B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatus are described for a User Equipment (UE) to transmit and for a base station to receive a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest ACKnowledgement (HARQ-ACK) signal in a resource of a Physical Uplink Control CHannel (PUCCH). The HARQ-ACK signal is transmitted from the UE in response to a detection of a PDCCH transmitted from the base station and conveying a DCI format that, depending on the PDCCH type, can include a HARQ-ACK PUCCH Resource Offset (HPRO) information field. The UE and the NodeB determine the PUCCH resource depending on the PDCCH type and, if the DCI format includes the HPRO, also depending on a PDCCH transmission type.