Terminal Resource Configuration via Subcarrier Width Symbol Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In next-generation wireless communications systems, terminals face challenges in determining the time-frequency resource occupied by control channels due to varying subcarrier widths, leading to inefficient resource utilization and network access delays.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow terminals to receive indication information about subcarrier widths used for control channels, enabling them to determine the corresponding quantity of symbols occupied, thereby quickly identifying the time-frequency resource and improving resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If PCFICH is used to indicate control channel resources, then the indication method is simple, but the maximum quantity of OFDM symbols is limited to 3 which is insufficient for systems with multiple subcarrier widths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the indication parameter from a fixed 2-bit PCFICH format (indicating 0-3 OFDM symbols) to a flexible indication method using higher-layer signaling that can represent different maximum symbol quantities based on subcarrier width. This allows the system to adapt to different subcarrier widths (15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, 120kHz) while maintaining simple indication mechanisms through predefined mappings between subcarrier width and maximum symbol quantity.
2Speed
If the terminal determines time-frequency resources based on fixed PCFICH indication, then the determination process is fast, but the resource utilization is inefficient when subcarrier width varies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the mapping relationship between subcarrier widths and maximum symbol quantities through higher-layer signaling before actual resource allocation. This allows the terminal to quickly determine resources by simply looking up the pre-established mapping based on the indicated subcarrier width, maintaining fast determination speed while achieving efficient resource utilization across different subcarrier widths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If higher-layer signaling is used to indicate subcarrier width and symbol quantity, then adaptability to different subcarrier widths is improved, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the indication approach from detailed explicit signaling of both subcarrier width and symbol quantity to a parameter-based implicit indication where only the subcarrier width is explicitly signaled. The terminal then derives the maximum symbol quantity from pre-configured mapping tables, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining full adaptability to different subcarrier widths.
4Device complexity
If the control channel occupies fixed time-frequency resources, then the resource allocation is simple, but the network access efficiency decreases when subcarrier width changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the control channel resource allocation adaptive rather than fixed. The maximum symbol quantity is dynamically determined based on the indicated subcarrier width through pre-configured mapping relationships. This allows the system to maintain simple allocation procedures while achieving dynamic adaptation to different subcarrier widths, thereby improving network access efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A resource configuration method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal, indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate a subcarrier width used for a first control channel, a maximum quantity of symbols occupied by the first control channel is determined by the subcarrier width, and the different subcarrier widths correspond to different maximum symbol quantities; and determining, by the terminal based on the indication information, a quantity of symbols occupied by the first control channel, where the quantity of symbols occupied by the first control channel is less than or equal to the maximum quantity of symbols.