Terminal Uplink Priority Handling for URLLC and eMBB Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G communication systems, the overlap of grant-free access and scheduled access resources in the time domain leads to issues with data transmission priority based on delay time requirements, particularly for eMBB and URLLC data, where eMBB data transmission delays URLLC data with strict latency requirements.

Innovation Solution

A terminal apparatus and method that prioritize data transmission based on delay time requirements by implementing a communication system that supports grant-free access for URLLC and scheduled access for eMBB, using multi-carrier transmission schemes like DFTS-OFDM, CP-OFDM, and sparse code multiple access, with priority given to URLLC data to ensure low latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If scheduled access is used for uplink data transmission, then the base station can control all uplink transmissions and establish Orthogonal Multiple Access, but the amount of control information increases and delay increases for URLLC

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of uplink transmissionsVSAvoiddelay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments uplink access into two distinct modes: scheduled access for eMBB traffic and grant-free access for URLLC traffic. This segmentation allows each access type to be optimized independently - scheduled access maintains control information management for eMBB while grant-free access eliminates scheduling delays for URLLC, resolving the contradiction between control reliability and transmission delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically selects between scheduled access and grant-free access based on traffic type and delay requirements. For URLLC traffic with strict latency requirements, the system dynamically switches to grant-free access to minimize delay, while eMBB traffic continues to use scheduled access for efficient resource management. This dynamic adaptation resolves the delay-control contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If grant-free access is used for uplink data transmission, then overhead associated with control information is suppressed, but resources may overlap with scheduled access resources in time domain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information overheadVSAvoidresource coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different access characteristics to different traffic types and time-frequency resources. Grant-free access with reduced control overhead is applied specifically to URLLC traffic requiring low latency, while scheduled access with full control information is applied to eMBB traffic. This localized application of different access qualities resolves the overhead-complexity contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the network configuration of separate grant-free resources - that mediates between the need for reduced control overhead and the need to avoid resource conflicts. By pre-configuring dedicated grant-free resources, the system eliminates the need for real-time coordination while suppressing control information overhead for grant-free transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If eMBB data transmission is performed on overlapping resources, then scheduled access resources are utilized, but URLLC data transmission with strict latency requirements is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the productivity-latency contradiction by adding a temporal dimension to resource allocation - separating eMBB and URLLC transmissions in time when resources overlap. The terminal postpones eMBB transmission to a later time slot when the scheduled resource becomes available, allowing URLLC transmission to proceed immediately on the overlapping resource without latency penalty, while eMBB transmission is rescheduled to maintain overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4274344B1Terminal apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 SHARP KK
  • EP4274344B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4274344B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4274344B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide a terminal apparatus and a communication method capable of ensuring high reliability and low latency of URLLC. There are included a receiver configured to receive Radio Resource Control, RRC, signaling and a first Downlink Control Information, DCI, format addressed to a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier, C-RNTI, and a transmitter configured to determine a first priority of a first uplink grant based on a priority filed in the RRC signaling, and to transmit a first Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH, scheduled by the first uplink grant and a second PUSCH scheduled by a second uplink grant, wherein the first uplink grant is a configured uplink grant notified by the RRC signaling, and the second uplink grant is notified by the first DCI format.