SPS Command Confirmation via Single Bit Field

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE, there is a challenge in confirming the receipt of semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration commands, especially when multiple SPS configurations are activated, leading to issues like interference, resource wastage, and battery consumption due to lack of synchronization between the user equipment (UE) and the radio network equipment (eNB).

Innovation Solution

A method where the user equipment (UE) sets a confirmation field in a message to confirm receipt of SPS configuration commands, allowing for efficient confirmation of activation, release, or re-activation of SPS configurations, using a single bit field that can indicate different command types and statuses, decoupling values from specific commands and activation statuses, and allowing for confirmation of multiple configurations with a single message.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a single bit confirmation field is used to confirm receipt of multiple types of SPS commands, then the confirmation overhead is reduced and resource efficiency is improved, but the ability to distinctly confirm different command types (activation, release, re-activation) is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery consumptionVSAvoidcommand type distinction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The single bit confirmation field is designed to serve multiple functions by confirming different types of SPS commands (activation, release, re-activation) across multiple configurations. The confirmation bit is set to '1' when any SPS command is received and reset to '0' when no command is received, allowing one bit to convey confirmation status for multiple command types and configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a time-based dimension to resolve the limitation of the single bit field. By monitoring the timing and sequence of confirmation bits across multiple transmission opportunities, the eNB can distinguish between different command types and configurations even though the bit values themselves are limited to 0 or 1. The pattern and timing of confirmations provide additional information beyond the bit values.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the UE skips UL grant transmission when HARQ buffer is empty, then UL interference and battery consumption are reduced, but the eNB cannot determine whether SPS activation/release commands were correctly received

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUL interferenceVSAvoidcommand receipt confirmation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE sends confirmation bits in response to SPS commands received on PDCCH. The confirmation bit is set to '1' when an SPS activation or re-activation command is received, and reset to '0' when no such command is received. This feedback allows the eNB to reliably determine command receipt status even when the UE skips UL grant transmission due to empty HARQ buffer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple SPS configurations are activated simultaneously, then the system flexibility and resource utilization are improved, but the confirmation complexity and synchronization difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidconfirmation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the confirmation of multiple SPS configurations into a single confirmation bit. Instead of having separate confirmation bits for each configuration type and each configuration, a single bit is used to indicate receipt of any SPS command. This merging simplifies the confirmation mechanism while maintaining the ability to track multiple configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the eNB monitors UL transmission at the first SPS occasion to detect command receipt, then the confirmation process is simple, but it fails when the UE skips UL grant for extended periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfirmation monitoringVSAvoidcommand receipt detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11290213B2Command receipt confirmation in a wireless communication system

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A user equipment (18) is configured for use in a wireless communication system (10). The user equipment (18) is configured to receive from radio network equipment (24) a command (32) with respect to an operating configuration (20). The operating configuration (20) specifies a set of transmission parameters for communication. The user equipment (18) is also configured to confirm receipt of the command (32) by setting the value of a confirmation field (36) in a message (34) and transmitting the message (34). In some embodiments, the confirmation field (36) is shared for confirming receipt of a number of different types of commands with respect to the operating configuration (20) that is greater than a number of possible values of the confirmation field (36).