Soft Buffer Management for UE Category Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE technology faces limitations in managing UE categories and buffer rate matching, particularly in handling high data rates and modulation schemes, which affects the performance and efficiency of wireless communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A method for performing limited buffer rate matching is introduced, allowing user equipment (UE) to determine the total number of soft channel bits based on received signaling and UE categories, enabling efficient handling of UE categories and modulation schemes, such as 256QAM, to optimize data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE supports multiple UE categories and high-order modulation schemes (e.g., 256QAM), then the data transmission rate is improved, but the complexity of determining the correct UE category and configuring the soft buffer size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidUE category determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE transmits a pre-configured list of UE categories to the base station before actual data transmission. This preliminary action allows the base station to indicate the correct UE category through compact signaling (e.g., using an index or specific bits), avoiding complex real-time determination and reducing the complexity of UE category management while supporting multiple categories and high-order modulation schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the UE uses a larger soft buffer to support higher data rates, then the productivity is improved, but the loss of time for buffer management and rate matching increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidbuffer management time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The total number of soft channel bits (soft buffer size) is determined in advance based on the selected UE category from the pre-transmitted list. This preliminary determination of buffer size eliminates the need for complex real-time buffer management, reducing the time required for buffer configuration and rate matching operations while supporting high data rates through appropriately sized buffers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The soft buffer size is dynamically adjusted based on the selected UE category, which itself is chosen from a list based on base station signaling. By changing the buffer size parameter according to the indicated UE category, the system efficiently manages buffer resources for different data rates without requiring complex real-time buffer management, thus reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the base station uses explicit signaling to indicate the UE category, then the reliability of UE category determination is improved, but the amount of signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE category determination reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The UE transmits a pre-configured list of UE categories to the base station before actual data transmission. This preliminary action allows the base station to indicate the correct UE category through compact signaling (e.g., using an index or specific bits), avoiding complex real-time determination and reducing the complexity of UE category management while supporting multiple categories and high-order modulation schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3205036B1UE category handling for soft buffer management
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3205036B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3205036B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3205036B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The apparatus performs LBRM. Before performing LBRM, the apparatus reports a plurality of UE categories to an eNB. In addition, the apparatus determines whether signaling in relation to the UE categories is received from the eNB. In addition, the apparatus selects a UE category from the plurality of UE categories based on the reported UE categories and the signaling in relation to the UE categories. In addition, the apparatus determines a total number of soft channel bits to use for LBRM at the UE based on the selected UE category. Subsequently, the apparatus performs LBRM based on the determined total number of soft channel bits.