PUCCH Spatial Relation Updates for Lower-Power Uplink Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face inefficiencies in managing spatial relation configurations for physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmissions, leading to suboptimal power usage and potential retransmissions due to limited MAC CEs supporting only 8 spatial relation settings, which can be inefficient and power-intensive.

Innovation Solution

Enhancing the Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) to support up to 64 spatial relation settings per BWP, allowing simultaneous updates or deactivations per group, thereby optimizing PUCCH resource management and reducing power consumption by enabling more efficient spatial relation configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If MAC CE supports only 8 spatial relation settings, then device complexity is reduced, but spatial relation configuration capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial relation configuration capabilityVSAvoidMAC CE structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MAC CE is segmented into multiple parts: a first part indicating a first spatial relation setting and a second part indicating a second spatial relation setting. This segmentation allows the MAC CE to support more spatial relation settings (up to 64) by distributing configuration information across multiple fields, thereby resolving the contradiction between enhanced adaptability and controlled complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to the MAC CE structure by adding a second part for indicating additional spatial relation settings. This dimensional expansion transforms the single-field indication mechanism into a multi-field mechanism, enabling support for 64 spatial relation settings while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If MAC CE supports up to 64 spatial relation settings, then spatial relation configuration capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial relation configuration capabilityVSAvoidMAC CE structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MAC CE is segmented into multiple parts: a first part indicating a first spatial relation setting and a second part indicating a second spatial relation setting. This segmentation allows the MAC CE to support more spatial relation settings (up to 64) by distributing configuration information across multiple fields, thereby resolving the contradiction between enhanced adaptability and controlled complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to the MAC CE structure by adding a second part for indicating additional spatial relation settings. This dimensional expansion transforms the single-field indication mechanism into a multi-field mechanism, enabling support for 64 spatial relation settings while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If spatial relation configuration is updated frequently, then transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables partial updates of spatial relation configurations by allowing the MAC CE to indicate specific spatial relation settings (first and second parts) that need updating without requiring complete reconfiguration. This partial action approach improves transmission reliability by updating only necessary configurations while reducing power consumption compared to full reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service updates where the UE can autonomously apply spatial relation configuration updates received via MAC CE without requiring higher-layer signaling intervention. This self-service mechanism at the MAC layer improves transmission reliability through faster updates while reducing overall power consumption by eliminating redundant higher-layer processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12501280B2Updating PUCCH spatial relation information

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for wireless communication including a UE and a base station. The UE can receive a MAC CE indicating an update to a spatial relation configuration of the UE for PUCCH transmissions. In some aspects, the update can be indicated by PUCCH resource information, where the PUCCH resource information can include first PUCCH resource information including a first PUCCH resource ID that identifies a first PUCCH resource and first spatial identification information. Additionally, the UE can update the spatial relation configuration of the UE based on at least one of the first PUCCH resource information or other PUCCH resource information of the PUCCH resource information, where the other PUCCH resource information can be in a same PUCCH resource group as the first PUCCH resource. Also, the UE can transmit a PUCCH transmission based on the updated spatial relation configuration.