PUCCH Resource Indication for Faster Sidelink HARQ Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for sidelink communications, leading to delayed retransmissions and increased resource consumption due to indirect HARQ feedback relay through user equipment (UE) to the base station.

Innovation Solution

Direct PUCCH resource indication from the base station to the receiving UE for sidelink HARQ feedback, allowing the UE to transmit feedback directly to the base station, reducing delays and resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If HARQ feedback is transmitted indirectly through UE to base station, then sidelink communication can be established, but transmission delays increase and resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHARQ feedback transmission speedVSAvoidRetransmission delay

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the HARQ feedback transmission path from the indirect route (through UE) and establishes a direct path from receiving UE to base station. The receiving UE directly transmits HARQ feedback on PUCCH resources to the base station, eliminating the intermediate relay step through the transmitting UE, thus reducing transmission delay and improving feedback speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces PUCCH resources as a dedicated intermediary channel for HARQ feedback transmission. By allocating specific PUCCH resources directly between the receiving UE and base station, it creates an optimized communication path that bypasses the traditional indirect route, thereby reducing delay and improving transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If indirect HARQ feedback relay through UE is used, then sidelink communication can be maintained, but resource consumption at UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveScheduling efficiencyVSAvoidUE resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the resource-intensive relay function from the UE and relocates it to the base station. The base station directly receives HARQ feedback on allocated PUCCH resources, eliminating the need for UE to perform complex relay operations, thus reducing UE computational burden and energy consumption while improving overall scheduling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving UE directly services the base station by transmitting HARQ feedback independently without requiring the transmitting UE to relay the information. This self-service approach reduces the operational burden on UEs, minimizing their resource consumption and energy usage while maintaining effective sidelink communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4173195B1Physical uplink control channel resource indication for sidelink hybrid automatic repeat request feedback

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a first user equipment (UE) may receive an indication of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource for providing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a sidelink data transmission from a second UE. The first UE may transmit the HARQ feedback for the sidelink data transmission on the PUCCH resource. Numerous other aspects are provided.