Reduced-Capability NR Repetition Patterns for Blockage-Limited Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reduced capability NR devices face diminished coverage due to limited processing power, fewer antennas, and shorter battery life, with existing NR configurations lacking flexibility in PDSCH and PUSCH repetition schemes, requiring repetitions to occur in consecutive slots, which is inadequate for devices with severe blockage or attenuation.
Innovation Solution
Dynamic and non-dynamic repetition schemes are introduced for PDSCH and PUSCH transmissions, allowing repetitions to occupy contiguous or non-contiguous OFDM symbols or slots, with varying power levels, durations, and start/end locations across multiple slots or subframes, and incorporating DMRS sharing to enhance coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repetitions are required to occur in consecutive slots, then device complexity is reduced, but coverage enhancement is insufficient for devices with severe blockage or attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic repetition schemes where the network can configure different repetition patterns (contiguous or non-contiguous slots) based on channel conditions and device capabilities. This allows the system to adapt from simple consecutive slot repetitions to more complex patterns with varying power levels and durations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining low device complexity and achieving sufficient coverage enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables modification of multiple transmission parameters including repetition slot allocation, power levels, durations, and start/end locations. By dynamically changing these parameters based on channel quality and device status, the system can achieve better coverage enhancement without requiring devices to handle overly complex fixed patterns, thus balancing reliability improvement with adaptability.
2Measurement precision
If DMRS is transmitted for each repetition, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces DMRS sharing mechanisms where a single DMRS can serve multiple repetitions, particularly when repetitions occur in contiguous slots or when channel conditions are relatively stable. This merging approach reduces the total number of DMRS transmissions while maintaining adequate channel estimation accuracy, thus reducing overhead without completely sacrificing measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective DMRS transmission where DMRS is transmitted for some repetitions but not all. The network can configure partial DMRS coverage based on channel volatility and repetition patterns, providing adequate channel estimation where needed while reducing overall overhead. This partial action approach balances the trade-off between measurement precision and resource consumption.
3Productivity
If repetition patterns are fixed to consecutive slots, then scheduling simplicity is maintained, but latency is increased and resource usage is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic repetition configuration where the network can adaptively select between contiguous and non-contiguous slot patterns, adjust power levels per repetition, and modify durations based on real-time channel conditions and device feedback. This dynamic approach improves transmission efficiency by optimizing resource usage while managing configuration complexity through network-side control rather than device-side complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal repetition framework that can accommodate multiple transmission patterns (contiguous slots, non-contiguous slots, varying power levels, different durations) through a unified configuration mechanism. This multi-functionality allows the system to optimize for different scenarios (low latency, high reliability, energy saving) without requiring separate specialized mechanisms, thus improving overall productivity while keeping the configuration system manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Blind coverage for wireless devices is enhanced varying one or more transmission characteristics of a repeated transmission sent or received by apparatuses, where the repeated transmission includes, for example a Physical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) and/or a Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) transmissions. Varied characteristics may include a start time for each repetition, a duration for each repetition, a start frequency for each repetition, a bandwidth of each repetition, a number of repetitions for each subframe, and/or a number of repetitions for each slot. Repetitions may be within a Bandwidth Part (BWP) or span multiple BWPs. Repetitions may vary from one to another in start time, start frequency, duration, bandwidth, and slot and subframe patterns. Higher level signalling, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signalling may be used to control the inclusion or omission of a DeModulation Reference Signal (DMRS) in repeated transmissions.