Terminal Device PUCCH Format Allocation for Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio communication systems lack an efficient method for transmitting uplink control information in LTE networks, particularly in scenarios involving multiple serving cells and secondary cells.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of specific PUCCH formats and resource allocation strategies in terminal and base station devices, allowing for efficient transmission of uplink control information by optimizing the use of PUCCH resources and formats across multiple serving cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If carrier aggregation is extended beyond five serving cells to increase network capacity, then the quantity of substance increases, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to lack of standardized UCI transmission methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of serving cellsVSAvoidcomplexity of UCI transmission management
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides uplink control information into different types (ACK/NACK, CSI, SR) and assigns specific PUCCH formats to different information types. This segmentation allows standardized handling of each UCI type regardless of the total number of serving cells, managing complexity through structured classification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal PUCCH transmission framework that handles multiple UCI types (ACK/NACK, CSI, SR) and multiple serving cells using a unified set of rules and formats. This multi-functional approach allows the same PUCCH mechanisms to serve diverse purposes across any number of aggregated cells.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PUCCH formats are used to accommodate different UCI types, then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases due to resource allocation management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in UCI transmissionVSAvoidcomplexity of PUCCH resource allocation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns specific PUCCH formats to specific UCI types based on their local requirements: PUCCH format 1a/1b for ACK/NACK, format 2 for CSI, and format 3 for multiple UCI types. This localized optimization allows each format to be tailored to its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity through clear assignment rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters such as resource allocation indices, cyclic shifts, and orthogonal cover codes based on the UCI type and serving cell configuration. These parameter adjustments allow the system to adapt to different scenarios without requiring fundamentally different transmission mechanisms, maintaining versatility while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3291624B1Terminal device, base station device, communication method, and integrated circuit
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 SHARP KK
  • EP3291624B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3291624B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3291624B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a terminal device including a reception unit configured to receive a first set of information used for permitting simultaneous transmission of a CSI and a HARQ-ACK using PUCCH format (3), and receive a second set of information used for permitting simultaneous transmission of a CSI and a HARQ-ACK using PUCCH format (4). The terminal device may also include a transmission unit for transmitting a HARQ-ACK and/or a CSI. Based at least on whether the first set of information, the second set of information, and the HARQ-ACK correspond to a PDSCH transmission on a secondary cell with a cell index less than or equal to a first predetermined value or whether the HARQ-ACK corresponds to a PDSCH transmission on a secondary cell with a cell index greater than the first predetermined value, processing operations related to HARQ-ACK and/or CSI transmission may be executed.