Terminal Uplink Control Channel Resource Allocation for LTE Efficiency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The limitation of the common search space in LTE systems, where the PDCCH is transmitted in association with the cell-specific reference signal, restricts efficient notification of control information, leading to a deterioration in transmission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves configuring higher layer parameters in the terminal to utilize additional control channel elements for transmitting HARQ-ACK in specific subframes, allowing for improved resource allocation and transmission efficiency by defining multiple sets of parameters for downlink-uplink subframe configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the PDCCH is transmitted in association with the cell-specific reference signal in the common search space, then the control information can be notified to the terminal, but the transmission efficiency deteriorates due to limited common search space availability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information notificationVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channel resources by introducing separate common search space and UE-specific search space configurations. The PDCCH can be transmitted in either common search space (for general control information) or UE-specific search space (for dedicated control information), allowing efficient resource allocation and improving overall transmission efficiency while maintaining reliable control information notification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables dynamic selection of search space type (common or UE-specific) and dynamic configuration of search space parameters through higher layer signaling. This allows the system to adaptively optimize control channel transmission based on current network conditions and terminal requirements, improving transmission efficiency without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the common search space is limited to subframes with cell-specific reference signal, then the control channel structure is simplified, but the transmission efficiency deteriorates due to restricted subframe availability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel structureVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides control channel transmission into two independent search space types: common search space with simplified structure for basic control information, and UE-specific search space with flexible configuration for enhanced efficiency. This segmentation allows each search space to be optimized for its specific purpose, maintaining structural simplicity where needed while improving transmission efficiency where possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different search space types: the common search space maintains a simple, fixed structure for reliability, while the UE-specific search space employs flexible, configurable parameters for efficiency. This local optimization of structural quality allows the system to balance complexity and transmission efficiency across different control information scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3051908B1Terminal, base station, and communication method
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 SHARP KK
  • EP3051908B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3051908B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3051908B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station includes a transmission unit and a reception unit. The transmission unit transmits a first uplink-downlink configuration in notification as information specific to the base station, a second uplink-downlink configuration configured as information specific to the terminal. The reception unit receives HARQ response information by using a PUCCH resource for the HARQ response information to PDSCH transmission of the terminal. The PUCCH resource is given based on elements in a set defined by a table. The table is defined for a combination of the first uplink-downlink configuration and the second uplink-downlink configuration.