Semi-Persistent Scheduling for Short TTIs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current semi-persistent scheduling techniques in mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing short Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs), leading to interference between uplink and downlink communications, and difficulties in supporting HARQ retransmissions due to the need for explicit signaling, which increases overhead and can result in ignored retransmissions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configurations that utilize both legacy and short subframes, allowing for flexible resource allocation and enabling non-adaptive HARQ retransmissions on configured uplink grants, thereby reducing interference and overhead while supporting efficient data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If semi-persistent scheduling is implemented with short TTIs, then data rate and communication efficiency are improved, but interference between uplink and downlink communications increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidinterference between uplink and downlink
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission time into distinct uplink and downlink slots within short TTIs, organizing resources to prevent interference. By dividing the communication timeline into structured units with clear direction assignments, the system achieves high data rates while avoiding uplink-downlink interference through proper temporal and spectral resource segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If explicit signaling is used for HARQ retransmissions, then retransmission reliability is improved, but scheduling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ retransmission reliabilityVSAvoidscheduling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service HARQ retransmissions where the receiving device autonomously determines retransmission parameters and executes retransmissions without requiring explicit signaling from the transmitting device. This self-service mechanism maintains high retransmission reliability while dramatically reducing scheduling overhead by eliminating the need for continuous explicit coordination messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If explicit signaling is required for HARQ retransmissions, then retransmission accuracy is improved, but latency increases due to additional signaling steps

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ retransmission accuracyVSAvoidretransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring HARQ retransmission parameters and resources before actual data transmission occurs. This advance preparation allows the system to execute retransmissions immediately when needed without waiting for explicit signaling exchanges, thereby maintaining high retransmission accuracy while minimizing latency through pre-established protocols and resource allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10973078B2Supporting semi-persistent scheduling for varied transmission time intervals
Publication Date: 2021.04.06 APPLE INC
  • US10973078B2 patent drawing
  • US10973078B2 patent drawing
  • US10973078B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An apparatus configured to be employed within an evolved Node B (eNodeB) or within a User Equipment (UE) is disclosed. The apparatus includes control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to configure a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration that accommodates short subframes. The short subframes have a transmit time interval (TTI) of less than duration of 1 legacy subframe (e.g., 1 ms). The SPS configuration is provided within a radio resource control (RRC) signaling.