Unified TCI State Mapping for Multi-TRP PDSCH and PUSCH
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs) with non-ideal backhaul, leading to suboptimal use of transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states, which affects channel performance and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A unified TCI state selection mechanism is introduced, allowing user equipment (UE) to determine or be signaled by the network to activate specific TCI states based on predefined rules or signaling (RRC, MAC CE, DCI), optimizing TCI state usage across multiple TRPs for improved communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple TCI states are configured for multiple TRPs, then communication reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indication of multiple TCI states into a single unified TCI state field within the DCI. Instead of separately indicating each TCI state, the system uses a unified indication mechanism that can represent multiple states, thereby reducing the number of bits required for signaling while maintaining the ability to select from multiple TRPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified TCI state field serves multiple functions: it can indicate a single TCI state, multiple TCI states, or combinations thereof, depending on the interpretation rules. This multi-functional field replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate indication fields, reducing overhead while preserving communication reliability across multiple TRPs.
2Reliability
If TCI states are indicated separately for each channel, then channel performance is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate TCI state indications for different channels into a unified indication mechanism. The DCI includes a unified TCI state field that can simultaneously or independently indicate TCI states for PDSCH and PUCCH, eliminating the need for separate indication fields and simplifying the UE's processing logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified TCI state field is designed to handle multiple scenarios: indicating a single TCI state for both channels, indicating different TCI states for each channel, or using predefined combinations. This universal field reduces device complexity by providing a single processing interface for TCI state determination across multiple channels.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to selecting one or more of activated transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states for communications between a network and a user equipment. In an example, the network includes multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs) with which the UE communications. An activated TCI state can be a unified downlink TCI state that applies to multiple downlink channels or a unified uplink TCI state that applies to multiple uplink channels, where this state has already been activated by the network for the UE. Based on a predefined set of rules or network-based signaling, the UE can determine for a downlink or uplink communication with the network, one or more of the activated TCI states to use to then perform the downlink or uplink communication with the network.