Dynamic TDD Slot Format Overwrite for Full-Duplex Wireless
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communications systems face challenges in efficiently managing diverse data traffic profiles and requirements across various devices, such as low latency and high reliability for URLLC services, and high capacity for eMBB services, due to limitations in legacy TDD systems that operate in half-duplex mode, leading to underutilization of resources and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an overwrite indicator allows communications devices to dynamically reconfigure time-divided portions of the wireless radio interface, enabling full-duplex TDD operations by allowing uplink data to be transmitted over previously configured downlink resource units and vice versa, using existing semi-static and dynamic slot format configurations while maintaining legacy RRC slot formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If legacy TDD systems operate in half-duplex mode with semi-static slot configurations, then device complexity is reduced and legacy compatibility is maintained, but resource utilization is underutilized and latency is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling communications devices to dynamically determine a second slot format that overwrites at least a portion of the first semi-static slot format based on an overwrite indicator. This allows the slot configuration to change dynamically rather than remaining semi-static, enabling full-duplex operation where downlink and uplink resource units can be overlapped in time, thereby improving resource utilization and reducing latency for URLLC services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing a system that maintains compatibility with legacy half-duplex TDD operations while simultaneously supporting advanced full-duplex operations. The communications device can operate in both modes depending on the overwrite indicator, making the system universal enough to support diverse services including eMBB, URLLC, and legacy services without requiring separate systems.
2Productivity
If downlink and uplink resource units are overlapped in time for full-duplex operation, then resource utilization is improved and latency is reduced, but interference between simultaneous transmission and reception increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling selective overwriting of specific resource units within the slot format. The overwrite indicator allows certain downlink or uplink resource units to be overwritten and used for opposite-direction transmissions, while other resource units maintain their original half-duplex allocation. This localized change allows full-duplex operation only where beneficial while maintaining protection in other areas.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic slot format reconfiguration is enabled with overwrite indicators, then adaptability to different traffic profiles is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the slot format parameters dynamically through overwrite indicators. The system changes the temporal allocation parameters of resource units, allowing the same physical resources to be reconfigured for different traffic profiles (eMBB, URLLC, legacy) without changing the underlying hardware or frequency allocation, thereby achieving adaptability with minimal complexity increase.
Data Source
AI summary
A method including receiving an indication of a first pattern for one of a plurality of time-divided portions of a wireless radio interface from a wireless communications network, the first pattern defining one or more uplink resource units for transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network and/or one or more downlink resource units for receiving downlink data from the wireless communications network, receiving an overwrite indicator from the wireless communications network indicating that the communications device is able to use at least one of the downlink resource units for transmitting uplink data to the wireless communications network and/or at least one of the uplink resource units for receiving downlink data from the wireless communications network, and determining a second pattern for the time-divided portion of the wireless radio interface to replace the first pattern by overwriting at least a portion of the first pattern based on the overwrite indicator.