Reference Signal Puncturing Indicator for URLLC Data Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing reference signals (RS) to accommodate high-priority data transmissions, such as ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), especially when the user equipment (UE) is not currently being served by the network node.
Innovation Solution
Configuring RS with a puncturable and unpuncturable subset, where the unpuncturable subset indicates whether the puncturable subset has been punctured, allowing network nodes to transmit high-priority data even when the UE is not being served.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the reference signal is fully puncturable to accommodate high-priority data transmissions, then the spectral efficiency and data transfer speed are improved, but the reliability of the reference signal for channel estimation and UE measurements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reference signal is divided into two distinct subsets: a puncturable subset that can be overwritten by high-priority data transmissions, and an unpuncturable subset that remains intact for reliable channel estimation and measurements. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate urgent data traffic while preserving a dedicated portion of the reference signal for maintaining communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the reference signal are assigned different properties: the puncturable subset is designed to be replaceable for flexibility, while the unpuncturable subset is protected to ensure reliability. This local differentiation in quality and protection level allows the system to simultaneously achieve both high productivity through puncturing and high reliability through protected portions.
2Loss of time
If the network node transmits high-priority data immediately when UE is not being served, then the latency is reduced, but the complexity of managing reference signal configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference signal is pre-configured with designated puncturable and unpuncturable subsets before transmission occurs. This preliminary structuring enables the network node to immediately puncture the designated subset when high-priority data arrives, without requiring complex real-time decisions about which reference signal resources to protect and which to overwrite, thus reducing latency while managing complexity through advance planning.
Solution Approach 2:
The unpuncturable subset acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the need for rapid high-priority data transmission and the need for reliable channel estimation. By having a pre-designated protected portion, the system avoids complex real-time negotiations or calculations, allowing immediate puncturing decisions while maintaining reference signal integrity for measurements.
3Loss of information
If the unpuncturable subset indicates puncturing status of the puncturable subset, then the signaling efficiency is improved, but the reference signal structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The puncturing status information is merged directly into the unpuncturable subset of the reference signal itself, rather than being transmitted as separate signaling messages. This combining of data and control information within a single signal structure improves signaling efficiency by eliminating redundant transmissions, while the added complexity is confined to the reference signal structure rather than requiring additional communication channels or protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are techniques related to wireless communication system in which a network node (e.g., a base station, gNB, etc.) may be allowed to puncture a reference signal (RS) to deliver high priority data (e.g., URLLC data) to a user equipment (UE) that is not currently being served by the network node. The RS may comprise a puncturable subset and an unpuncturable subset. The puncturable subset may comprise resources of the RS that are allowed to be punctured, and the unpuncturable subset may comprise resources of the RS that are prohibited from being punctured. The network node may transmit the RS such that unpuncturable subset indicates whether or not the puncturable subset of the RS has or has not been punctured. In this way, the network node can quickly inform whether or not the RS has been punctured to carry high priority data.