PUCCH Resource Offset for Carrier Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR systems, there is an ambiguity in indicating PUCCH resources and timing offsets for carriers with different numerologies, leading to potential delays and inefficiencies in uplink control information transmission, particularly in time division duplex systems with heavy downlink slot configurations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a user equipment (UE) that receives an indication of a reference resource and a component carrier, selects a component carrier for UCI transmission based on the indication, determines a resource offset applicable to the selected carrier, and controls the transmission using these offsets to adapt to different numerologies, ensuring unambiguous PUCCH resource indication and minimizing processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If PUCCH resources are indicated without considering carrier-specific numerologies, then the indication is simple, but it leads to ambiguity and potential delays in uplink control information transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing carrier-specific resource offsets that are tailored to each component carrier's numerology characteristics. Instead of using a uniform resource indication method across all carriers, the system adjusts the PUCCH resource allocation based on the specific subcarrier spacing and slot structure of each carrier, thereby eliminating ambiguity while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the PUCCH resource offset values according to the numerology parameters (subcarrier spacing, slot length) of each component carrier. The resource offset is modified based on the relationship between the downlink carrier numerology and uplink carrier numerology, ensuring accurate timing alignment without complex indication procedures.
2Reliability
If carrier-specific resource offsets are applied for different numerologies, then PUCCH transmission accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a unified resource offset determination mechanism that handles multiple numerology scenarios through a single framework. The base station uses a universal procedure to calculate resource offsets based on numerology parameters, and the UE applies the same universal logic to determine PUCCH resources, thereby managing complexity through standardization rather than through multiple specialized mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the resource offset values and numerology parameters through higher-layer signaling before actual PUCCH transmission occurs. The base station determines and signals the appropriate resource offsets in advance, allowing the UE to prepare the correct PUCCH resources without requiring complex real-time calculations during the transmission moment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If resource offsets are calculated based on numerology differences, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but processing time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining the resource offsets through higher-layer configuration before the actual scheduling decision is made. This allows the time-consuming offset calculations to be performed in advance rather than in real-time, thereby maintaining scheduling flexibility while minimizing the processing time required at the moment of PUCCH transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the resource offset values adaptable to different scheduling scenarios while maintaining a structured determination process. The system dynamically selects appropriate offset values based on the specific numerology combination and scheduling requirements, allowing flexible adaptation without requiring complex real-time computations that would extend processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques disclosed herein feature a user equipment (UE), a base station, a method for a UE and a method for a base station. The UE comprises a transceiver which, in operation, receives an indication of a reference resource and an indication of a component carrier, and circuitry which, in operation, selects, based on the indication of the component carrier, a component carrier for transmitting an uplink control information, UCI; selects, based on a configuration or a UE capability, a resource offset applicable to the selected component carrier, determines a resource for transmitting the UCI by applying the resource offset to the reference resource, and controls transmission of the UCI on the selected component carrier and on the determined resource.