SPS HARQ-ACK Transmission Control via DRX Timing Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional procedures for controlling Semi-Persistent Scheduling Hybrid Automatic Repeat request Acknowledgment (SPS HARQ-ACK) and Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) repetitions do not effectively account for Discontinuous Reception (DRX) inactivity periods, leading to potential losses in SPS HARQ-ACK transmissions and PUCCH repetitions during cell DRX non-active times.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that determine DRX timing information and PUCCH resource information to control SPS HARQ-ACK transmissions and PUCCH repetitions, deferring transmissions to avoid coinciding with DRX inactivity periods by shifting them to alternative PUCCH slots, ensuring receipt and maintaining repetition integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SPS HARQ-ACK and PUCCH repetitions are transmitted according to conventional procedures, then transmission timing is simplified, but transmissions may be lost during cell DRX non-active periods

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSPS HARQ-ACK transmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE determines DRX timing information in advance and uses it to predict future DRX non-active periods. This preliminary determination allows the UE to proactively adjust SPS HARQ-ACK and PUCCH transmission timings before collisions occur, ensuring reliable delivery during active periods while avoiding waste during non-active periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission timing of SPS HARQ-ACK and PUCCH repetitions is made dynamic rather than fixed. The UE continuously monitors DRX timing information and adjusts transmission slots based on current and predicted DRX states, allowing the system to adapt to varying DRX patterns while maintaining reliable communication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If transmissions are deferred to avoid DRX inactivity periods, then energy efficiency is improved, but transmission timing becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell power consumptionVSAvoidtransmission coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gNB provides DRX timing information to the UE as feedback, enabling the UE to autonomously determine optimal transmission timings. This feedback mechanism allows the UE to align transmissions with gNB active periods without requiring complex real-time coordination, reducing both energy waste and coordination overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The UE independently determines transmission timings by processing DRX timing information and autonomously selecting appropriate PUCCH slots. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex gNB-UE coordination for each transmission, reducing signaling overhead and simplifying the overall system while improving energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4447359A1Apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling transmission of SPS HARQ-ACK and pucch repetitions
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4447359A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4447359A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4447359A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Certain examples of the present disclosure relate to controlling the transmission of Semi-Persistent Scheduling Hybrid Automatic Repeat request Acknowledgment, SPS HARQ-ACK, and Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, repetitions. Some examples provide an apparatus (110, 10) comprising: means (11)for determining Discontinuous Reception, DRX, timing information (202), wherein the DRX timing information is indicative of at least one time period of cell DRX inactivity; means (11) for determining PUCCH resource information (205), wherein the PUCCH resource information is indicative of a PUCCH resource for the apparatus to transmit a SPS HARQ-ACK (209); and means (11) for controlling a transmission of the SPS HARQ-ACK based at least in part on the DRX timing information and the PUCCH resource information.