TCI State Management for Uplink Transmission Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states in User Equipment (UE) to reduce losses between UE and access nodes, particularly in scenarios where uplink transmissions fail due to blockages or interference.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a User Equipment (UE) that can receive an indication of multiple candidate TCI states, select a different TCI state, and transmit an acknowledgement using either the current or the selected TCI state. This allows the UE to switch to a more suitable TCI state to avoid blockages and improve uplink transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE uses the current TCI state for uplink transmissions, then the transmission configuration remains stable and simple to manage, but uplink transmissions may fail due to blockages or interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic TCI state selection where the UE can switch between a current TCI state and alternative TCI states based on transmission conditions. The UE dynamically selects from multiple candidate TCI states provided by the gNB, allowing the system to adapt to changing channel conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through predefined state options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the TCI state parameter to optimize uplink transmissions. The gNB provides multiple candidate TCI states with different configurations, and the UE selects among them based on estimated uplink budgets and channel conditions, thereby changing the transmission parameter to avoid blockages and interference.
2Productivity
If the UE switches to a different TCI state to avoid blockages, then uplink transmission performance improves, but the complexity of TCI state management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gNB performs preliminary action by providing a set of candidate TCI states to the UE before uplink transmissions are needed. This pre-provisioning of multiple TCI state options allows the UE to quickly switch to an appropriate state without complex real-time calculations, thereby improving transmission efficiency while limiting selection complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE performs self-service by autonomously selecting the most appropriate TCI state from the candidate set provided by the gNB, based on its own estimation of uplink budgets and channel conditions. This self-selection mechanism improves transmission efficiency without requiring complex network-controlled state management.
3Loss of information
If the UE transmits ACK using the selected TCI state, then the indication of TCI state selection is confirmed, but the transmission may be subject to the same blockages that prompted the TCI state change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the UE transmit an ACK using the currently configured TCI state rather than the newly selected one. This feedback mechanism confirms the TCI state change to the gNB while ensuring reliable transmission by using the proven, non-blocked TCI state for the critical ACK signal.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the disclosure relate to management of Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) States. In examples of the disclosure a User Equipment (UE) can be arranged to receive an indication of a plurality of candidate TCI states. The plurality of candidate TCI states comprise at least one TCI state different to the TCI state with which the UE is currently configured. The UE can also be arranged to transmit an indication of a selected TCI state from the plurality of candidate TCI states where the selected TCI state is different to the TCI state with which the UE is currently configured. The indication of the selected TCI state can be transmitted to a gNB or access node. The transmission of the selected TCI state uses one of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement (ACK) and an ACK transmission.