Terminal BWP Activation Through Multi-Cell PDCCH Fields

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radio communication systems face inefficiencies in downlink transmission, particularly in managing bandwidth parts (BWPs) and carrier aggregation, which affect the performance of terminal and base station apparatuses in cellular networks.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves configuring and managing bandwidth parts (BWPs) and carrier aggregation by using Carrier Indicator Fields (CIF) and Bandwidth Part Index Fields (BIF) in the DCI format to efficiently schedule and decode downlink channels, allowing for optimized monitoring and activation of BWPs in serving cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) are configured for carrier aggregation, then downlink transmission efficiency is improved, but terminal apparatus complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink transmission efficiencyVSAvoidterminal apparatus complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the downlink bandwidth into multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), each independently configurable and schedulable. This allows the terminal to process and monitor multiple BWPs separately through distinct PDCCH monitoring configurations, reducing the complexity of managing a single large bandwidth while improving overall downlink transmission efficiency through parallel processing of multiple segmented bandwidth portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If PDCCH monitoring is performed across multiple serving cells and BWPs, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic PDCCH monitoring where the terminal adaptively monitors PDCCH in multiple serving cells and BWPs based on activation states and scheduling needs. The monitoring behavior is dynamically adjusted according to which BWPs are currently active and which serving cells require monitoring, allowing high scheduling flexibility when needed while reducing processing load during normal operation by monitoring only necessary cells and BWPs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If cross-carrier scheduling is implemented with CIF, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but control signal overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol signal overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements cross-carrier scheduling where a single PDCCH in one serving cell can schedule PDSCH resources across multiple serving cells using the Carrier Indicator Field (CIF). This universal scheduling mechanism allows one control channel to perform multiple scheduling functions for different cells, improving resource allocation efficiency by centralizing control while the CIF overhead is managed through efficient field encoding and selective usage based on scheduling requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3706487B1Terminal apparatus, base station apparatus, and communication method
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 SHARP KK
  • EP3706487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3706487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3706487B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) including a first downlink Bandwidth part Index Field (BIF) based on a PDCCH candidate of a first search space in a first serving cell and receive a second PDCCH including a second downlink BIF based on a PDCCH candidate in a second search space in the first serving cell, and a higher layer processing unit configured to activate any downlink bandwidth part (BWP) of a first set of downlink BWPs in the first serving cell based on information indicated by the first downlink BIF and activate a downlink BWP of a second set of downlink BWPs in a second serving cell based on information indicated by the second downlink BIF.