Slot Format Determination for 5G Full Duplex Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Full duplex operation in 5G NR wireless communication systems impacts legacy user equipment in terms of slot format determination and data scheduling, leading to increased power consumption due to flexible symbols that cannot assume transmission direction.
Innovation Solution
User equipment determines slot formats for non-flexible slots and symbols using received uplink and downlink configurations, allowing for reduced behavioral impact and lower power consumption by interpreting cell-specific and user-specific configurations to adjust slot formats accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If full duplex operation is supported with flexible symbols configured for different transmission directions, then communication efficiency is improved, but power consumption at user equipment increases and legacy user equipment behavior is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UL/DL configuration into two distinct parts: a first UL/DL configuration that legacy user equipment can interpret for slot format determination, and a second UL/DL configuration that enables full duplex operation with flexible symbols. This segmentation allows the network to support advanced full duplex functionality while maintaining compatibility with legacy devices, thereby improving communication efficiency without forcing legacy equipment to consume excessive power interpreting incompatible configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary configuration mechanism where the network provides multiple UL/DL configurations and indicates which one should be used for slot format determination. This intermediary layer allows the system to coordinate between legacy and advanced user equipment, enabling full duplex operation with flexible symbols while preventing legacy equipment from misinterpreting the configuration and consuming unnecessary power.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple UL/DL configurations are provided for different user equipment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal configuration framework where a single set of configuration mechanisms serves multiple purposes: it provides slot format information for legacy user equipment, enables full duplex operation for advanced equipment, and allows dynamic adaptation to different user equipment capabilities. By making the configuration system multi-functional, the patent achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having different configuration mechanisms for different user equipment types, the patent inverts the approach by providing a unified configuration system that works for all equipment, with the network indicating which configuration interpretation each device should use. This inversion simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining adaptability across different equipment capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a method and an apparatus for determining slot formats of UL/DL transmission. The method includes: receiving a first UL/DL configuration and a second UL/DL configuration: and determining slot formats for a set of non-flexible slots and non-flexible symbols by at least one of the first UL/DL configuration and the second UL/DL configuration.