Rate-Matching Shared Control Resources for 5G UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in utilizing control resources, as control channels often occupy only a portion of the available resources, leading to underutilization of the remaining resources, particularly in systems like LTE and 5G networks where data transmissions are scheduled within the same time period as control resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing rate-matching techniques that allow data transmissions to be scheduled around occupied control resources, using unoccupied portions of the control resource set, by determining subsets of resources based on the location of control channels and providing mappings of occupied resources, enabling efficient use of all available wireless resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control channels are allocated in control resources, then control information can be transmitted to multiple UEs, but the unoccupied control resources are underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control channel transmissions and data transmissions by allowing data transmissions to occupy unoccupied control resources. The base station schedules data transmissions in the same time period as control resources, utilizing the remaining resources after control channels are allocated, thereby combining two functions in the same resource pool.
Solution Approach 2:
The control resource set is designed to serve multiple purposes: it can transmit control information to multiple UEs and simultaneously carry data transmissions. The same control resources are used for both control channel purposes and data transmission purposes, making the resource pool multi-functional.
2Productivity
If data transmission is scheduled in the same time period as control resources, then resource utilization increases, but interference with control channels may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by rate-matching data transmissions around specific control channel locations. Instead of treating all control resources uniformly, the system identifies which specific resource elements are occupied by control channels and protects only those locations, allowing data to be transmitted in the remaining unoccupied portions without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
Rate-matching acts as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates between control channel allocations and data transmissions. It determines the subset of control resources to protect based on control channel locations and adjusts data transmission accordingly, mediating between the two functions to prevent interference while maximizing resource utilization.
3Productivity
If rate-matching is performed around control channels, then data transmission can utilize unoccupied control resources, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by determining the subset of control resources to protect before data transmission occurs. The base station identifies control channel locations and communicates this information to UEs in advance, allowing UEs to pre-calculate rate-matching patterns and prepare for efficient data reception without complex real-time processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by providing UEs with the information needed to autonomously perform rate-matching. UEs receive control resource set configurations and control channel location information, then independently determine which resources to protect and how to rate-match data transmissions, reducing the processing burden on the base station.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described in which control resources may be identified, and a data transmission may be rate-matched around the one or more control channels of multiple UEs or at multiple aggregation levels in the control resources. A user equipment (UE) may identify a search space for a first control channel, and the rate-matching of the data transmission may be performed based on a location of the search space in the control resources. In some cases, a base station may provide a mapping of resources (e.g., a bitmap) within the control resources that are occupied, which may be used for rate-matching.