Terminal Device Capability Signaling for LTE Rank Indicator Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE radio systems, there are discrepancies between the actual and assumed operations of base station devices and terminal devices regarding bit width of Rank Indicator (RI), rate matching of code blocks, and soft channel bit storage, leading to potential communication failures.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device and base station device communicate efficiently by transmitting and receiving capability information, including specific details about the number of supported layers, bandwidth classes, and RI bit width, ensuring accurate configuration and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If capability information exchange is implemented to align operational parameters, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having terminal devices transmit capability information (including RI bit width, rate matching, and soft channel bit storage parameters) to base stations before actual data communication begins. This advance configuration ensures both devices agree on operational parameters, preventing communication failures due to parameter mismatches while maintaining systematic complexity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If detailed capability information is exchanged between terminal and base station, then communication accuracy is improved, but information processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments capability information into distinct parameters: RI bit width, rate matching configuration, and soft channel bit storage parameters. Each parameter is independently configured and exchanged between terminal and base station, allowing precise control over communication accuracy for each aspect while managing information processing overhead through structured, modular data exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3319363B1Terminal device, base station device, communication method and integrated circuit
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 SHARP KK
  • EP3319363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3319363B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3319363B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal device transmits an RI determined by the terminal device, the RI corresponding to PDSCH transmission and corresponding to the number of layers, transmits capability information including first information, second information, third information, and/or fourth information, and receives fifth information, wherein the first information indicates a UE category corresponding to a first maximum number of the layers, the second information indicates a first bandwidth class, the third information indicates a second maximum number of the layers, the fourth information indicates a third maximum number of the layers, the fifth information indicates a fourth maximum number of the layers, and a fifth maximum number of the layers assumed for determining a bit width for the RI is given by referring to any one of the first maximum number of the layers, the second maximum number of the layers, and the fourth maximum number of the layers.