TCI State Beam Management for PDCCH and PDSCH
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP specifications lack details on common beams for data and control information transmission/reception, and the process of updating these beams, leading to unclear methods for ensuring successful updates and impact on beam failure detection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of a first PDCCH indicating a TCI state from a network device to a terminal device, configuring the TCI state for monitoring and receiving PDCCH and PDSCH, with specific time thresholds for updating and applying the TCI state for PDCCH and PDSCH transmission/reception, allowing for the updating of common beams used for both.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a unified TCI framework is supported for DL and UL beam indication, then beam management efficiency is improved, but the specifications lack details on common beams for data and control information transmission/reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam management process into distinct phases: configuration phase (where TCI states are configured for both PDCCH and PDSCH), activation phase (where MAC CE activates specific TCI states), and application phase (where different time thresholds apply to PDCCH vs PDSCH). This segmentation allows detailed specification of each phase while maintaining unified framework efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic time thresholds (first time threshold for PDCCH, second time threshold for PDSCH) that allow flexible adaptation of beam switching timing based on channel conditions and device capabilities. This dynamic approach enables the system to balance between rapid beam switching (for efficiency) and sufficient processing time (for reliability).
2Quantity of substance
If common beams are used for PDCCH and PDSCH transmission/reception, then overhead is reduced, but the process of updating beams becomes unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring multiple TCI states in advance for both PDCCH and PDSCH before actual transmission begins. The MAC CE activation prepares specific TCI states for use, and the device is ready to switch beams immediately when needed, eliminating the need for real-time beam selection and reducing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes feedback mechanisms where the network device monitors beam performance and triggers TCI state updates via MAC CE when beam failure is detected or performance degrades. This feedback loop ensures clear beam update processes while maintaining common beam usage for reduced overhead.
3Device complexity
If TCI state is updated for common beam usage, then beam management is simplified, but it may affect beam failure detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TCI state application into separate time thresholds: first time threshold for PDCCH beam switching and second time threshold for PDSCH beam switching. This segmentation allows beam failure detection to occur at appropriate intervals without being disrupted by continuous beam updates, maintaining both simplified management and reliable detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides time cushioning by establishing minimum time thresholds between TCI state updates and beam failure detection opportunities. This ensures that beam failure detection can occur at safe intervals, preventing detection failures while still allowing frequent enough updates to maintain simplified beam management.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices and computer storage media for communication. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state is transmitted from a network device to a terminal device. The terminal device applies, based on a first time threshold, the TCI state for monitoring a second PDCCH transmitted from the network device. The terminal device applies, based on a second time threshold, the TCI state for receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmitted from the network device. As such, a common beam used for PDCCH and PDSCH, which is indicated by a common TCI state, can be updated and the updated beam can be applied for PDCCH and PDSCH transmission/reception.