PUCCH Resource Management in Secondary Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face limitations in communication capacity, speed, flexibility, and efficiency, particularly when using multiple cells, as they often result in limited flexibility and efficiency in PUCCH transmission.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a user equipment (UE) and an evolved Node B (eNB) that utilize RRC messages to manage scheduling requests on both primary and secondary cells, allowing for flexible configuration of PUCCH transmission based on parameters such as maximum transmission counts and timers, enabling efficient resource allocation and distribution across cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If PUCCH transmission is restricted to primary cell only, then system complexity is reduced, but communication flexibility and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcommunication flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments PUCCH transmission capabilities by introducing the concept of PUCCH SCell (secondary cell) separate from PCell (primary cell). This allows PUCCH transmissions to be divided across multiple cells, with each cell handling specific scheduling requests independently. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling flexible PUCCH transmission on SCells while maintaining simpler primary cell management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic configuration of PUCCH resources through RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling. The network can dynamically assign or revoke PUCCH SCell status based on traffic conditions, allowing the system to adapt between simple and flexible modes. This dynamic approach enables the system to maintain low complexity when flexibility is not needed while providing enhanced flexibility when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If PUCCH transmission is allowed on secondary cell, then communication flexibility is improved, but resource management complexity increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces RRC signaling as an intermediary layer that manages the complexity of PUCCH resource allocation on SCells. The RRC layer handles the configuration, activation, and deactivation of PUCCH SCell resources, shielding the lower physical layers from complex resource management decisions. This intermediary approach enables flexible PUCCH transmission while containing resource management complexity at the control layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If multiple cells are used for communication, then communication capacity increases, but efficiency in PUCCH transmission decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidPUCCH transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different cells to have different PUCCH transmission characteristics. Specifically, certain SCells are designated as PUCCH SCells with optimized resources and configurations for scheduling requests, while other cells focus on data transmission. This localized optimization maintains high communication capacity across multiple cells while ensuring efficient PUCCH transmission on designated cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3275263B1Physical uplink control channel on a secondary cell
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 SHARP KK
  • EP3275263B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3275263B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3275263B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a

AI summary

A method by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving by the RRC entity of the UE, a PUCCH release request from a lower layer of the UE, and applying the default physical channel configuration for a scheduling request configuration for a concerned secondary cell, upon receiving the PUCCH release request from the lower layers of the UE. The PUCCH release request is notified by a Medium Access Control (MAC) entity of the UE in a case that a time alignment timer expires, the time alignment timer is associated with a secondary timing advance group (sTAG) and the concerned secondary cell belongs to the sTAG.