REDCAP UE CORESET Reconfiguration to Reduce PDCCH Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reduced capability (REDCAP) UEs in 5G networks face challenges with increased PDCCH blocking probability due to reduced bandwidth, limited aggregation levels, and higher blind decoding attempts, which affect power efficiency and communication reliability for specific use cases like industrial wireless sensing, video surveillance, and wearables.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods and apparatus for REDCAP UEs to dynamically reconfigure control resource sets and search spaces, prioritize monitoring based on power saving configurations, and utilize UE assistance information to optimize blind decoding attempts, thereby reducing unnecessary searches and conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If REDCAP UEs use reduced bandwidth and limited aggregation levels for PDCCH monitoring, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but PDCCH blocking probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of control resource sets (CORESETs) and search spaces based on traffic conditions and UE state. The network can dynamically adjust the number of CORESETs, their bandwidth, aggregation levels, and search space configurations to adapt to changing requirements, allowing the system to switch between low-complexity modes (reducing blocking) and power-saving modes as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters including bandwidth of CORESETs, aggregation levels (L=1,2,4,8,16), number of search spaces, and monitoring occasions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on traffic load, channel conditions, and UE power state, the system optimizes the trade-off between PDCCH blocking probability and power consumption
2Adaptability or versatility
If REDCAP UEs increase blind decoding attempts to overcome PDCCH blocking, then scheduling flexibility improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial monitoring where the UE does not monitor all possible search spaces and CORESETs at all times. Instead, the network configures a subset of search spaces and CORESETs that are sufficient for the current scheduling needs, reducing blind decoding attempts while maintaining adequate scheduling flexibility. The UE monitors only the necessary portion of control resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic monitoring occasions where the UE monitors PDCCH only at specific intervals rather than continuously. The network configures monitoring occasions with periodicity that balances scheduling flexibility requirements against power consumption, allowing the UE to enter sleep modes between monitoring occasions when no scheduling is expected
3Reliability
If REDCAP UEs monitor multiple search spaces and CORESETs, then communication reliability improves, but power efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control resource monitoring into multiple priority levels and groups. High-priority search spaces and CORESETs are monitored continuously to ensure critical communication reliability, while lower-priority resources are monitored selectively or with reduced intensity. This segmentation allows the UE to maintain reliability for essential communications while reducing power consumption for non-critical monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE reports its power state, channel conditions, and decoding success/failure to the network. Based on this feedback, the network dynamically adjusts the configuration of search spaces and CORESETs, reducing the monitoring burden when the UE is in power-saving mode or when channel conditions are good, thereby improving power efficiency while maintaining adequate reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed in which downlink control information transmitted by a radio access network provides an indication of at least one set of control resources configured at a UE, or of at least one search space configured at a UE, that the UE is to stop monitoring for DCI, start monitoring for DCI, or continue monitoring for DCI.