Short PUCCH Format Configuration for 5G UCI Transmission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems for 5G new radio access technology face challenges in efficiently configuring short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) formats and scheduling request (SR) transmissions, particularly in handling collisions between SR and other UCI feedback, which limits flexibility and efficiency in managing multiple UCI types with varying priorities.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multiple PUCCH formats, including short and long durations, with adaptive resource allocation and power scaling based on priority rules, allows for simultaneous transmission of UCI types like HARQ-ACK, SR, and CSI, ensuring efficient use of resources and handling collisions by configuring different PUCCH formats and resources for various UCI types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single PUCCH format is used for all UCI transmissions, then device complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency and flexibility deteriorate due to inability to handle different UCI types with varying priorities

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePUCCH format configurationVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments PUCCH transmissions into multiple formats (first format for SR, second format for other UCI) with different durations and structures. This segmentation allows each format to be optimized for its specific UCI type, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and efficiency by creating specialized formats rather than using a single general-purpose format.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic format selection and adaptive resource allocation where the UE can dynamically choose between different PUCCH formats based on the UCI type being transmitted. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt to different communication scenarios, improving efficiency without permanently increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If short PUCCH duration is used, then latency is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to limited resources for error correction and lower processing gain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission latencyVSAvoidUCI transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes key parameters of the short PUCCH format including increasing the number of resource elements allocated for UCI, adjusting the cyclic prefix length, and modifying the modulation scheme. These parameter adjustments maintain short duration for low latency while improving reliability through better resource allocation and error resilience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple techniques within the short PUCCH format including sequence spreading, frequency hopping, and power boosting to create a composite transmission approach that achieves both low latency and high reliability by leveraging the strengths of multiple methods simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PUCCH formats with adaptive resource allocation are implemented, then communication flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to format selection and resource management

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUCI transmission flexibilityVSAvoidformat selection and resource allocation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary configuration where the network pre-configures multiple PUCCH formats and their associated resources before actual UCI transmission. The UE stores these pre-configured formats and selects from them based on the UCI type, which reduces real-time decision complexity while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the UE autonomously determines the appropriate PUCCH format based on simple criteria (e.g., UCI type, buffer status) without requiring complex network coordination for each transmission. This self-service approach reduces the complexity of format selection while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If power scaling based on priority rules is applied, then system performance is improved by prioritizing high-priority traffic, but use of energy increases due to power boosting for critical UCI

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies power scaling selectively only to specific UCI types and transmission scenarios where it is most needed, rather than uniformly boosting all transmissions. High-priority UCI such as SR experiences power boosting while lower-priority transmissions use standard power levels, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3619874B1Short pucch formats and scheduling request (SR) transmission for 5th generation (5G) new radio access technology (NR)
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 SHARP KK
  • EP3619874B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3619874B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3619874B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user equipment (UE) is described. The UE includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions stored in the memory are executable to determine a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource and a PUCCH format. The instructions are also executable to transmit uplink control information (UCI) on the PUCCH resource using the PUCCH format. If the PUCCH format is a 2-symbol short PUCCH, 1-symbol PUCCH structure is used in each symbol, and if the UCI is up to 2 bits, the UCI is repeated in two symbols using repetition of a 1-symbol PUCCH. If the PUCCH format is a 2-symbol short PUCCH, and if the UCI is more than 2 bits, the UCI is jointly encoded, and the encoded UCI bits are distributed across two symbols.