TCI State Management for BWP Switching in 5G Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G communication systems, the reliability and accuracy of data transmission are compromised due to unclear configuration of Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) states during Bandwidth Part (BWP) switching, leading to inefficiencies in beam management and resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a terminal determines and uses the TCI state of a Control Resource Set (CORESET) last used on the original BWP to receive downlink channels, ensuring consistent beam configuration and reducing reconfiguration overhead, thereby improving data transmission reliability and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If BWP switching is performed in 5G communication system, then the terminal can work on multiple BWPs to support wider bandwidth, but the TCI state configuration becomes unclear resulting in low reliability and accuracy of data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth support capabilityVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states for multiple BWPs before switching occurs. The network side configures TCI states in advance for each BWP, and the terminal stores these configurations ready for immediate use when BWP switching is triggered, eliminating the uncertainty of TCI state configuration during switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal reports BWP usage status and TCI state configuration needs to the network side. The network side then provides appropriate TCI state configurations based on this feedback, ensuring that the correct TCI states are applied when switching between BWPs, thereby maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If BWP switching is performed in 5G communication system, then the terminal can work on multiple BWPs to support wider bandwidth, but the TCI state configuration becomes unclear resulting in low accuracy of data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth support capabilityVSAvoiddata transmission accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states for multiple BWPs before switching occurs. The network side configures TCI states in advance for each BWP, and the terminal stores these configurations ready for immediate use when BWP switching is triggered, eliminating the uncertainty of TCI state configuration during switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal reports BWP usage status and TCI state configuration needs to the network side. The network side then provides appropriate TCI state configurations based on this feedback, ensuring that the correct TCI states are applied when switching between BWPs, thereby maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If TCI state reconfiguration is performed during BWP switching, then the TCI state can be updated to match new BWP, but transmission overhead and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTCI state configuration accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the terminal to autonomously determine and apply TCI states from its stored configurations during BWP switching, without requiring continuous network side reconfiguration commands. The terminal serves itself by selecting the appropriate pre-configured TCI state based on the target BWP, reducing signaling overhead and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states for multiple BWPs before switching occurs. The network side configures TCI states in advance for each BWP, and the terminal stores these configurations ready for immediate use when BWP switching is triggered, eliminating the uncertainty of TCI state configuration during switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If TCI state reconfiguration is performed during BWP switching, then the TCI state can be updated to match new BWP, but transmission overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTCI state configuration accuracyVSAvoidtransmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the terminal to autonomously determine and apply TCI states from its stored configurations during BWP switching, without requiring continuous network side reconfiguration commands. The terminal serves itself by selecting the appropriate pre-configured TCI state based on the target BWP, reducing signaling overhead and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states for multiple BWPs before switching occurs. The network side configures TCI states in advance for each BWP, and the terminal stores these configurations ready for immediate use when BWP switching is triggered, eliminating the uncertainty of TCI state configuration during switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3742806B1Downlink channel receiving method, downlink channel sending method, terminal and base station
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3742806B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3742806B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3742806B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method of receiving downlink channel, a method of sending downlink channel, a terminal and a base station are provided. The method includes: determining a TCI state of a downlink control channel, where in the case that the terminal switches back to an original BWP, the TCI state is a TCI state of a CORESET last used on the original BWP by the terminal, and the downlink control channel is sent on the CORESET of the original BWP; and receiving the downlink control channel according to the TCI state.