Secondary Cell Deactivation Timer for PUCCH State Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inconsistent understanding of the activation state of a secondary cell between a base station and a user equipment (UE) leads to issues in data transmission, causing interference and energy inefficiency due to incorrect deactivation of secondary cells carrying physical uplink control channels (PUCCHs).
Innovation Solution
Implementing a deactivation timer restart mechanism for secondary cells carrying PUCCHs, where the UE restarts the deactivation timer upon specific conditions such as channel quality indicator reports or PDCCH indications, ensuring consistent activation state management between the UE and the base station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a deactivation timer is implemented for autonomous SCell deactivation, then resource efficiency is improved, but state consistency between base station and UE deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different deactivation timer mechanisms to different types of SCells. SCells carrying PUCCH are excluded from autonomous deactivation while other SCells use the deactivation timer mechanism, creating localized quality differences in timer application across the cell group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SCell group into two categories: SCells carrying PUCCH and other SCells. This segmentation allows different deactivation timer policies to be applied to each segment, resolving the contradiction by protecting PUCCH-carrying cells from autonomous deactivation while maintaining resource efficiency for other cells.
2Quantity of substance
If PUCCH is transmitted on an SCell, then uplink control information capacity is improved, but deactivation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies SCells with PUCCH transmission as having special local quality requirements. These cells are granted exemption from autonomous deactivation timers, ensuring their activation state remains reliable while other SCells can be dynamically deactivated for resource efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent SCell configuration changes are made, then traffic adaptability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic SCell activation/deactivation capability through deactivation timers, allowing the system to adapt traffic patterns without frequent RRC reconfigurations. The MAC layer timer mechanism provides dynamic adjustment while avoiding RRC signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The deactivation timer implements periodic monitoring and automatic deactivation based on inactivity periods. This periodic mechanism allows traffic adaptability through automatic state changes without requiring continuous RRC signaling intervention.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication apparatus including: a controller configured to configure a plurality of SCells including a first SCell carrying a PUCCH and a second SCell different from first SCell; and a transmitter configured to transmit to a network side via a Physical Uplink Channel (PUCCH) a uplink control information (UCI) using the first SCell; wherein the controller configures a deactivation timer with respect SCell except for the first SCell among the plurality of SCells, and the controller configures the first SCell to be activated and deactivated by an activation/deactivation media access control (MAC) control element (CE).