PUCCH Resource Identification for Multi-PDSCH HARQ-ACK Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in signaling multiple transmissions due to excessive overhead, particularly in scheduling multiple physical uplink and downlink shared channels (PUSCH and PDSCH) with varying device capabilities and usage expectations, leading to resource allocation challenges and increased complexity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a single control element (DCI) for scheduling multiple PUSCH and PDSCH transmissions, allowing for reduced overhead by signaling resource allocations and feedback efficiently, including techniques for HARQ-ACK feedback through modified DCI formats that minimize redundant signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate control elements are used for each PUSCH/PDSCH transmission, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate control elements (DCIs) into a single control element that schedules multiple PUSCH and PDSCH transmissions. This merging approach reduces the total number of control messages while maintaining the ability to allocate resources accurately for each transmission through embedded resource allocation fields within the unified DCI structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control element is designed with multi-functionality to handle both uplink (PUSCH) and downlink (PDSCH) scheduling within a single message. This universal scheduling capability allows one DCI to perform the functions previously requiring multiple separate DCIs, thereby reducing overhead while preserving resource allocation precision through dedicated fields for each transmission type.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple control elements are used for multiple transmissions, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple scheduling decisions into a single control element, the patent reduces the number of separate processing operations required at the UE. The unified DCI contains all necessary scheduling information for multiple transmissions, simplifying the UE's scheduling processing while maintaining the flexibility to schedule different uplink and downlink resources appropriately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If separate feedback signaling is used for each transmission, then feedback accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback accuracyVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges feedback signaling for multiple PUSCH/PDSCH transmissions into a unified feedback mechanism. The single DCI includes resource allocation fields and feedback indicators that cover all scheduled transmissions, reducing the total feedback overhead while maintaining accurate acknowledgment information for each individual transmission through structured feedback fields within the unified message.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4278502B1Systems and methods for pucch resource identification in multi-pxsch transmission
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 APPLE INC
  • EP4278502B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4278502B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4278502B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This disclosure relates to techniques for performing wireless communications, including signaling resource allocation for multiple transport blocks (TBs) on either PUSCH or PDSCH using a single control element, such as a DCI. In particular, the single control element may signal resources scheduled for transmission of acknowledgment feedback information for all of the PDSCH TBs. Various approaches are disclosed, with varying levels of signaling overhead.