PUCCH Format for Uplink Control on Expanded Component Carriers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In next-generation mobile communication systems, the expansion of component carriers in user terminals beyond five poses challenges for transmitting uplink control signals effectively, as existing systems are insufficient to handle the increased number of carriers, leading to potential communication failures.

Innovation Solution

A new PUCCH format is designed that supports more bits than existing formats, allowing for orthogonal-division-multiplexing with existing PUCCH and PUSCH formats, using cyclic shifts and orthogonal codes to increase capacity without requiring additional resources, enabling efficient transmission of uplink control signals for six or more configured component carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of component carriers is expanded to six or more, then the data transmission capacity and communication speed are improved, but the existing PUCCH transmission methods become insufficient and cannot properly transmit uplink control signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoiduplink control signal transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of the PUCCH format by introducing a new format (PUCCH format 4) with modified structure, including different resource allocation, reference signal configuration, and orthogonal cover code application, enabling it to handle 6 or more component carriers while maintaining reliable control signal transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If existing PUCCH formats are used for six or more component carriers, then device complexity is maintained, but communication failures occur due to insufficient transmission capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission method complexityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic selection mechanisms where the system can adaptively choose between different PUCCH formats (format 3 or format 4) based on the number of component carriers configured, allowing the transmission method to dynamically adjust to system requirements without forcing a complex redesign for all scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If new transmission methods are developed for six or more component carriers, then uplink control signal transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink control signal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The new PUCCH format 4 is designed to be universal, capable of handling both traditional 5 or fewer component carriers and expanded 6 or more component carrier configurations, allowing a single format to serve multiple scenarios and reducing the need for separate specialized transmission methods

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

Data Source

PatentEP3462663B1User terminal, radio base station and radio communication method
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3462663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3462663B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3462663B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention is designed so that uplink control signals adequately even when the number of component carriers that can be configured in a user terminal is expanded. The present invention provides a receiving section that receives a DL signal, a transmission section that transmits UL control information, which includes a delivery acknowledgement signal in response to the DL signal, and a control section that controls the transmission of the UL control information, and the control section controls the transmission of the UL control information by using a PUCCH format, in which a cyclic shift is applied to a first symbol for a demodulation reference signal, and in which the orthogonal code is not applied, or an orthogonal code having a shorter sequence length than the sequence length adopted in existing PUCCH format 3 is applied, to a second symbol.