Scheduled Cell Identification Without CIF in Multi-Cell Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The overhead of multi-cell downlink control information (MC-DCI) is increased due to the inclusion of a carrier indication field (CIF) in wireless communications systems, which complicates scheduling across multiple cells.
Innovation Solution
The carrier indication field (CIF) is compressed or removed, and the UE determines the scheduled cell based on DCI payload size, control channel elements (CCEs), and configured rules or radio network temporary identifiers (RNTI) to reduce overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a carrier indication field (CIF) is included in MC-DCI to enable multi-cell scheduling, then scheduling capability across multiple cells is improved, but DCI overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the CIF field from the DCI structure, separating the cell identification function from the DCI payload. Instead of including carrier indication information in every DCI message, the system uses RRC signaling to pre-configure the association between scheduling cells and scheduled cells, allowing the DCI to operate without the CIF overhead while maintaining multi-cell scheduling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of cell associations through RRC signaling before actual scheduling operations. The network configures the UE with mappings between scheduling cells and scheduled cells in advance, so that when DCI is received, the UE can determine the target scheduled cell based on pre-established rules and configurations rather than requiring explicit carrier indication in each DCI message.
2Quantity of substance
If DCI payload size is reduced by removing CIF, then overhead is decreased, but cell identification capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RRC signaling as an intermediary that carries cell association information. Instead of embedding cell identification directly in DCI, the system uses RRC-configured mappings as an intermediary layer that enables the UE to translate scheduling cell identifiers to scheduled cell identifiers without requiring CIF in the DCI payload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the cell identification mechanism where instead of using full CIF fields in DCI, the system uses compact DCI formats that reference pre-configured cell associations. The UE maintains a mapping table from RRC signaling that acts as a copy of the cell relationship information, eliminating the need for redundant CIF data in DCI messages.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a multi-cell downlink control information (MC-DCI) that via a scheduling cell may schedule communications for more than one scheduled cells. The overhead of a DCI (e.g., an MC-DCI) may be reduced by compressing or removing the carrier indication field (CIF). For example, radio resource control signaling may indicate, to a UE, a DCI payload size, control channel elements (CCE)s, and/or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates per scheduled cell or per group of scheduled cells. If the DCI payload sizes, CCEs, and/or PDCCH candidates are different for the scheduled cells indicated in the radio resource control message, the UE may determine to which scheduled cell(s) a DCI received in a PDCCH monitoring occasion applies based on the payload size and/or CCEs of the PDCCH monitoring occasion without using a CIF.