Subframe Segmentation for MTC Control Information Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, such as LTE and LTE-A, lack effective methods for downlink control information transmission between base stations and MTC terminals, particularly for large numbers of terminals, leading to inefficiencies in signaling and data processing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring subframes for separate transmission of common and dedicated control information, allowing MTC terminals to correctly receive control information by defining distinct subframes for each type of information and using high-layer signaling or system broadcast messages to convey subframe configuration, thereby reducing power consumption and increasing tolerable blind detection times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If common control information and dedicated control information are transmitted in the same subframe, then resource utilization is improved, but terminal power consumption increases and blind detection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission of control information by assigning common control information and dedicated control information to different subframes. This segmentation allows the terminal to process control information in a structured manner, reducing power consumption by avoiding continuous monitoring of all control information types in every subframe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If common control information and dedicated control information are transmitted in the same subframe, then resource utilization is improved, but blind detection time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidblind detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments blind detection operations into different subframes based on control information type. The terminal performs blind detection for common control information in subframes configured for common control, and for dedicated control information in subframes configured for dedicated control, thereby reducing total blind detection time compared to searching all subframes for all control information types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If MTC terminals monitor all subframes for control information, then control information reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information reception reliabilityVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by configuring the terminal with specific subframe information indicating which subframes contain common control information and which contain dedicated control information. This preliminary configuration allows the terminal to proactively monitor only relevant subframes, maintaining reliable control information reception while significantly reducing power consumption compared to monitoring all subframes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3554140B1Method for downlink control information transmission, base station and terminal
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3554140B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3554140B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6A
  • EP3554140B1 patent drawingFigure 6B~8A

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provided a method for downlink control information transmission, a base station and a terminal. In one aspect, by acquiring subframe configuration information of a terminal, where the subframe configuration information is used for indicating a first subframe for transmitting common control information and a second subframe for transmitting dedicated control information, the embodiments of the present invention enable the common control information to be transmitted to the terminal over the first subframe and/or enable the dedicated control information to be transmitted to the terminal over the second subframe according to the subframe configuration information, thereby achieving downlink control information transmission between the base station and the terminal.