TCI State Activation via DCI for 5G Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In unified TCI state frameworks, the existing MAC CE activation scheme results in longer latency and higher overhead due to the need for frequent activations and the limitation of activated TCI states, which affects 5G network efficiency in common beam operations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves indicating a TCI state via DCI for immediate application to both control and data channels, with the option to use a default TCI state for reduced latency and overhead, and defining a default TCI state that can be applied upon MAC CE activation, along with alternative application timelines for TCI states indicated by DCI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MAC CE activation is used to activate TCI states, then TCI states can be activated and applied to control and data channels, but latency increases and overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring a pool of TCI states through RRC signaling before actual activation is needed. This allows the system to quickly switch between pre-configured states without requiring full reconfiguration through MAC CE every time, thereby reducing activation latency while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the TCI state management into two parts: RRC configuration of the TCI state pool (long-term setup) and MAC CE activation of specific states from the pool (short-term activation). This segmentation allows the heavy lifting of configuration to be done once, while subsequent activations are lighter and faster, reducing overall latency.
2Reliability
If MAC CE activation is used to activate TCI states, then TCI states can be activated and applied to control and data channels, but overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-configuring TCI states through RRC signaling, the system eliminates the need to re-transmit complete TCI state information through MAC CE for each activation. Only activation indicators are needed, significantly reducing signaling overhead while maintaining reliable activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses references to pre-configured TCI states rather than copying full TCI state definitions in each activation command. The MAC CE contains references or indices to already-configured states, reducing the amount of information that needs to be transmitted while maintaining complete functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent MAC CE activation is used, then TCI states can be updated for different scenarios, but latency and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments TCI state management into RRC configuration (long-term, low-frequency) and MAC CE activation (short-term, high-frequency). This allows frequent updates to be performed through lightweight MAC CE commands that reference pre-configured states, maintaining adaptability while reducing latency compared to full reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between using RRC-configured states for stable, long-term operation and MAC CE activation for rapid, scenario-specific updates. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing conditions without the overhead of complete reconfiguration, achieving both flexibility and low latency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for addressing common beam operation, in which a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state (e.g., beam) may be indicated by a Downlink Control Information (DCI) and subsequently be applied to both control and data channels and, in some aspects, to both downlink and uplink.