Resource Element Block Mapping for Low Latency 5G

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional 4G mobile communications systems have excessively long time domain spans in the physical resource block, leading to high latency issues that are not suitable for the high latency requirements of 5G services, particularly for ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC).

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a resource element block (REB) as the minimum unit for resource mapping, with a shorter time domain length than the physical resource block (PRB), allowing for reduced latency and improved anti-interference capabilities through frequency hopping patterns such as intra-sTTI, inter-sTTI, and sTTI bundling frequency hopping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If physical resource block (PRB) is used as the minimum unit for resource mapping in 4G system, then resource mapping can be performed with conventional structure, but the time domain span becomes excessively long resulting in high latency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidresource mapping structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the conventional physical resource block (PRB) into smaller resource element blocks (REBs). Each REB contains fewer resource elements than a full PRB, allowing data to be mapped and transmitted in smaller, more granular units. This segmentation enables shorter transmission time intervals (sTTI) by allowing data to occupy only the necessary number of symbols rather than requiring a full PRB structure, thereby reducing latency while maintaining manageable mapping complexity through systematic division

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional 4G resource mapping mode is used, then implementation is straightforward with existing structures, but it is not applicable to 5G services with high latency requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicability to 5G servicesVSAvoidresource mapping mode
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic resource mapping capabilities where the system can flexibly configure the number of resource elements per REB and the number of symbols per sTTI based on service requirements. This dynamic configuration allows the same physical layer structure to adapt to different 5G service types (e.g., eMBB, URLLC, mMTC) with varying latency and reliability needs, making the system versatile while managing complexity through standardized dynamic parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If shorter time domain spans are used to reduce latency, then latency requirement can be met, but anti-interference capability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidanti-interference capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple REBs to form transmission units that can span across different frequency resources and time symbols. By merging resources across multiple REBs, the system achieves frequency diversity and time diversity, which enhances anti-interference capability. The frequency hopping mechanism further merges transmission opportunities across different frequency bands, ensuring that even with shorter individual transmission intervals, the overall reliability is maintained through diversified resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If resource element block (REB) is introduced as minimum unit with shorter time domain length, then latency is reduced and anti-interference capability is enhanced, but resource mapping complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidresource mapping
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent manages mapping complexity by establishing standardized parameters for REB configuration, such as fixed numbers of resource elements per REB and defined relationships between REBs and sTTIs. These parameter standardizations allow the system to achieve fine-grained resource allocation and enhanced reliability through REB-based mapping, while keeping implementation complexity manageable through consistent, rule-based configuration rather than arbitrary complex structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3445110B1Transmission resource mapping apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3445110B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3445110B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3445110B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications technologies, and in particular, to a transmission resource mapping method and a device. In embodiments of the present invention, resource mapping is performed by using a resource element block, a length of the resource element block in time domain is less than a length of a physical resource block in time domain. Therefore, a mapping granularity can be reduced during resource mapping, so that latency in a transmission process can be reduced.