Terminal Device RI Bit Width Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE radio systems, there is a mismatch between the actual and assumed operations of base station and terminal devices, leading to communication inefficiencies due to differences in bit width for Rank Indicator (RI) feedback, rate matching for code blocks, and soft channel bit storage.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method to efficiently communicate between base stations and terminal devices through precise specification of bit width for RI, rate matching, and soft channel bit management, using techniques such as carrier aggregation and MIMO, ensuring accurate configuration and operation alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the terminal device and base station device use different operational assumptions for RI bit width, rate matching, and soft channel bit storage, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to mismatched operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational assumption alignmentVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of operational assumptions by explicitly specifying and aligning the bit width for RI feedback, rate matching parameters, and soft channel bit storage between terminal and base station devices. This ensures both devices use identical parameters for these critical operations, eliminating mismatches while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized parameter definitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal device transmits detailed capability information for MIMO and carrier aggregation, then adaptability is improved, but information loss increases due to potential mismatches in interpretation between devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability information transmissionVSAvoidinterpretation mismatch
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal device transmits capability information about supported MIMO and carrier aggregation technologies to the base station device. The base station then uses this feedback to configure appropriate operational parameters and assumptions, ensuring both devices have consistent understanding of each other's capabilities and avoid interpretation mismatches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the terminal device provides comprehensive capability information to the base station, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to detailed configuration management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the terminal device transmit its capability information (supported MIMO technologies, carrier aggregation capabilities, etc.) to the base station device before actual data communication begins. This advance configuration allows the base station to pre-establish appropriate operational assumptions and parameters, improving subsequent communication efficiency while managing device complexity through structured capability reporting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3376787B1Terminal device, base station device, communication method, and integrated circuit
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 SHARP KK
  • EP3376787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3376787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal device and a base station device efficiently communicate with each other. For the terminal device, in a case that third information is configured, a third maximum number of layers assumed for determining a bit width for a first RI and a fourth maximum number of layers assumed for determining a bit width for a second RI are provided, based on the third information. In a case that third information is not configured, (i) the third maximum number is provided, based on the smallest of a first number and a second number, and (ii) the fourth maximum number is provided, based on a smallest one of the first number and a third number. The first number is a second maximum number of the layers indicated by second information, the second number is a largest one of the number of antenna ports of a plurality of first CSI-RS resources, and the third number is a largest one of the number of antenna ports of a plurality of second CSI-RS resources.