Multi-Cell DCI Scheduling Across Serving Cells With Lower Control Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently aggregating multiple carriers and minimizing control signaling overhead for multi-cell scheduling, particularly in scenarios requiring high data rates and reliable communication.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for multi-cell scheduling in a wireless communication system, where a single downlink control information (DCI) is used to schedule multiple serving cells, reducing control signaling overhead and increasing spectral efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate DCIs are used to schedule each serving cell individually, then each cell can be scheduled independently with precise control, but the control signaling overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling control precisionVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate DCIs into a single multi-cell DCI that can schedule multiple serving cells simultaneously. This merging approach reduces the control signaling overhead by transmitting one unified DCI instead of multiple separate DCIs, while still maintaining the ability to independently control resource allocation across different cells through unified resource indication fields

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If a single DCI schedules multiple serving cells, then the control signaling overhead is reduced and spectral efficiency increases, but the complexity of interpreting scheduling information across multiple cells increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidscheduling information processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scheduling information within the single multi-cell DCI into distinct unified resource indication fields, each corresponding to specific serving cells. This segmentation allows the UE to systematically parse and interpret scheduling information for different cells in an organized manner, reducing the processing complexity compared to handling a monolithic scheduling message

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces new parameter structures including unified resource indication fields that can dynamically indicate resource allocations across multiple cells. These parameter changes enable flexible configuration where the same DCI format can adapt to different numbers of scheduled cells, simplifying the overall processing while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If carrier aggregation is implemented to provide high peak data rates, then the transmission capacity increases, but the control signaling overhead and aggregation efficiency management become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidaggregation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal multi-cell DCI format that can function for scheduling multiple serving cells across different carrier aggregation configurations. This single DCI structure serves multiple purposes by accommodating various numbers of scheduled cells and different cell combinations, thereby simplifying the aggregation management while maintaining high transmission capacity through carrier aggregation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4694492A1Device and method for multi-cell scheduling in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST
  • EP4694492A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4694492A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4694492A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An apparatus and a method thereof for multi-cell scheduling in a wireless communication system are proposed. The method includes receiving configuration information from a base station (BS), designating multiple serving cells including a first serving cell and a second serving cell as a cell group on the basis of the configuration information, performing a PDCCH monitoring operation for receiving a downlink control information (DCI) for scheduling the cell group in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) search space set, receiving the DCI from the BS on the basis of the PDCCH monitoring operation, identifying scheduling information for N number of the serving cells belonging to the cell group, and receiving data channels in at least one of the N number of the serving cells on the basis of the scheduling information.