Supplementary PUCCH Resource Pairing for ACK Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

PUCCH channels in wireless communications systems suffer from interference and impairments, leading to ACK errors that increase the PDSCH discard rate, reducing downlink throughput and resource efficiency, with the network being unaware of these errors due to lack of UE-measured performance metrics.

Innovation Solution

Configuring supplementary PUCCH resources and associating them with primary PUCCH resources, enabling UE-initiated transmissions to enhance PUCCH reliability and reduce PDSCH discard rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If primary PUCCH transmissions are used alone, then device complexity is reduced, but PUCCH reliability deteriorates due to interference and impairments causing ACK errors

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePUCCH reliabilityVSAvoidPUCCH configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PUCCH transmission is divided into two independent segments: primary PUCCH transmissions and supplementary PUCCH transmissions. Each segment uses separate resources and can be independently configured. The supplementary PUCCH provides additional redundancy without modifying the primary PUCCH structure, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supplementary PUCCH resources are pre-configured as a cushion against potential ACK errors in primary PUCCH transmissions. When interference or impairments affect the primary PUCCH, the previously prepared supplementary PUCCH resources provide immediate backup protection, preventing throughput loss without requiring real-time complex decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If supplementary PUCCH resources are configured, then PUCCH reliability improves through redundancy, but device complexity increases due to dual resource management

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveACK accuracyVSAvoidresource configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the UE measures downlink channel quality and provides this information to the network. Based on this feedback, the network dynamically determines whether supplementary PUCCH resources should be activated, allowing the system to adapt to changing channel conditions without requiring permanent complex configuration for all scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The supplementary PUCCH resources are configured dynamically rather than statically. The network can activate or deactivate supplementary resources based on real-time channel conditions, UE capability, and traffic requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve high reliability when needed while maintaining low complexity when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If primary PUCCH transmissions are used without supplementary transmissions, then resource usage is simplified, but downlink throughput decreases due to unnecessary retransmissions from ACK errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownlink throughputVSAvoidPUCCH transmission structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously determines when supplementary PUCCH transmissions are needed based on measured channel conditions and configured criteria. This self-service capability allows the system to improve throughput by reducing unnecessary retransmissions without requiring constant network intervention or complex centralized control for each transmission decision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If ACK errors are not detected by the network, then system operation is simpler, but resource efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary PDSCH retransmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoiderror detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The UE measures downlink channel quality and provides feedback to the network about channel conditions. This feedback enables the network to infer potential ACK errors and adjust its retransmission strategy accordingly, improving resource efficiency without requiring the network to directly detect or measure ACK accuracy at the physical layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250365724A1Supplementary physical uplink control channel

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for supplementary physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) configuration. An example method, performed at a user equipment (UE), generally includes receiving configuration information indicating first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources for primary PUCCH transmissions and second PUCCH resources for supplementary PUCCH transmissions associated with the primary PUCCH transmissions, transmitting at least one primary PUCCH on the first PUCCH resources, and transmitting at least one supplementary PUCCH on the second PUCCH resources.